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THE YOUNG MINERALOGIST SERIES 


II 

The Land of Drought 
















« 


You’re a wonderful shot, my lad,’ said 
the instructor ” Page 59 






THE LAND OF 
DROUGHT 


Or. ACROSS THE GREAT AMERICAN DESERT 


WITH MAP 


Sy 

Prof. Edwin J. Houston, A. M., Ph. D . (Princeton) 

M 

Author of 

“The Pacific Series,” “TTie Young Prospector” 

“The Boy Geologist,” etc., etc. 


THE GRIFFITH & ROWLAND PRESS 


ST. LOUIS 


BOSTON 


PHILADELPHIA 

CHICAGO 


Copyright 1910 by 
A. J. ROWLAND, Secretary 




©CI,A273a37 


PREFACE 


“The Land of Drought; or, Across the Great 
American Desert,” although complete in itself, con- 
tains practically the same characters as those of the 
first volume, “ A Chip of the Old Block ; or, At the 
Bottom of the Ladder.” But it tells so much about the 
doings of Rob’s especial chum. Happy, that it might 
be called “ The Land of Drought; or, The Young Op- 
timist ” ; for, as will be seen, when this and the other 
books of the series are read, the lad is a confirmed 
optimist. 

The scene is mainly laid in the Colorado Desert, near 
the extreme southeastern corner of California, one of 
the most absolute deserts in the world. The char- 
acter of the desert country, and its strange plant and 
animal life, afford many opportunities for the exciting 
adventures and hairbreadth escapes that are so inter- 
esting, as a rule, to young readers. At the same time 
they afford an opportunity for emphasizing the true 
cause of the desert — an insufficient water supply. 

The author has freely consulted standard authorities 
concerning the physical peculiarities of this part of 
the world. He is especially indebted for some of the 
facts and incidents to the valuable works of George 
Wharton James, “ The Wonders of the Colorado 
Desert ” ; “ In and Around the Grand Canon ” ; “ The 
Indians of the Painted Desert,” and John C. Van 
Dyke’s work on “ The Desert.” 


Philadelphia, July, 1910, 


E. J. H. 


CONTENTS 


Chapter Page 

1 . The Telegram ii 

II. Planning THE Rescue 19* 

III. Happy's Good Luck 28 

IV. Fragmental Rocks 37 

V. Rifles and Revolvers 48 

VI. Markings on Rocks 57 

VIL Rob's Dream 68 

VIII. Geological Mummies 80 

IX. A Lesson in Geography 91 

X. Another Letter FROM Blavinski 103 

XL Arrival AT Yuma 115 

XII. Colorado Bill, Sam Ling, and Awake- 

in-the-Night 123 

XIII. On the Colorado Desert 135 

XIV. Camp-fire Stories — Pegleg Smith's 

Lost Gold Mine 147 

XV. The Real Treasure of the Desert. ... 159 

XVI. Lost Among the Sand Hills 169 


CONTENTS 


Chaptbr Page 

XVII. The Salton Sea i8o 

XVIIL Some Desert Plants 191 

XIX. Rattlesnakes and Other Desert 

Animals 203 

XX. A Birthday Party in Camp 218 

XXL On the Track of Mashinsky and 

Metchiniskoff 237 

XXII. The Enmesfiment. Spreading and 

Tightening the Net 251 

XXIIL The Ship of the Desert 262 

XXIV. Happy and Rob Astonish Awake- 

in-the-Night 271 

XXV. The Mesa of the Dream 283 

XXVI. North Along THE Colorado River. . 298 

XXVII. Continued Pursuit of Mashinsky 

AND Metchiniskoff 309 

XXVIII. An Attempted Hold-up. Conclu- 
sion 323 


Appendices 


339 


LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 


Page 

'^^YotiWe a wonderful shot, my lad/ said the 
instructor Frontispiece ^ 

'' ' Wall, ril he busted, if ye beant the little kid I 

uster know down on the ranch in Texas ' . i2y 

'' No/ said Rob, ‘ I think it is o 1 f there. What 
do you think, Norman?'” 

No matter in zvhat direction it turned there zvas a 

wall of bristling cactus facing it” 204 v/ 

' Do you believe in dreams, Azvake-in-the- 
Night?' inquired Happy” 

I give you a chance for your life by sending a 
bullet through your hand ' ” 


CHARACTERS 


Robert Harold Gordon, a geologist and mineralo- 
gist. 

Robert Harold Gordon 2nd, his son. 

Robert Harold Gordon 3RD, only son of Robert 
Harold Gordon 2nd. 

Ralph Earle Clinton, Rob's special chum; known 
to his friends as Happy Clinton.” 

Emil Carl Schloss, of German extraction ; very fond 
of chemistry. 

Joseph Jackson Engleman, geologist and mineral- 
ogist. 

John Alexander Christian, mining engineer. 

Norman Edwin Taggart, from the ‘‘ Hub,” nephew 
of Professor Engleman. 

James Patrick McNally, Professor Engleman’s 
office boy. 

August Wilfred Francksen, lapidary. 

Petrof Blavinski, a Russian nobleman. 

Prince Dimitri, a near relative of the Czar. 

B. B. Blank, an American detective. 

Ivan Petromelinsky, a Russian detective. 


CHARACTERS 


SiGiSMOND Mashinsky, a Russian Jew, formerly 
a workman of Francksen. 

Stanislaus Metchiniskoff, a Russian Jew; a dia- 
mond cutter from Amsterdam. 

Colorado Bill, a Texas cowboy. 

Sam Ling, a Chinese cook. 

Awake-in-the-Night, an Indian. 

Mrs. Matilda Gordon, Rob’s grandmother. 

Mrs. Elizabeth Sprague Gordon, Rob’s mother. 





Map of some of the Southwestern United States 


The Land of Drought 


CHAPTER I 
The Telegram 

“ There^s a telegraph for you, sir, lying on your desk 
in the next room,” said the office boy to his employer as 
he entered the outer room of his offices. 

How did they get it in there, James?” said his 
employer with a twinkle in his eye. 

A messenger boy brought it, sir.” 

He must have been a remarkable messenger boy,” 
said his employer. ‘‘ But bring me the telegram. 
Don't call it a telegraph.” 

As the lad handed him the well-known yellow envel- 
ope of the Western Union Telegraph Company, the 
man opened and read it silently. 

Telegrams were by no means unusual in that office, 
but there was evidently something about this particular 
message that surprised the reader ; for, apparently for- 
getful of the presence of his office boy, he again read 
the message, this time sufficiently loud to be heard. It 
was as follows : 

Pittsburgh, Pa. 

Prof. Joseph Jackson Engleman, 

Land Title Building, Philadelphia: 

There are rumors in the Southwest that two white men are 
held in southern California near the Mexican border, west of 
II 


The Land of Drought 

Yuma, Ariz., as prisoners of the Apache Indians. Just possible 
they may be the Gordons. Am on my way to Philadelphia, and 
want to see you before talking the matter over with the Gordon 
family. John Alexander Christian. 

Seeing that he had unwittingly permitted his office 
boy to hear the contents of the telegram, the man 
turned to the lad and said : 

‘‘ This will be great news for your friend Robert, 
James.” 

The speaker was the Professor Engleman, with 
whom many of my readers have already become ac- 
quainted in the first volume of the Young Mineral- 
ogist Series, “ A Chip of the Old Block ; or. At the 
Bottom of the Ladder,” while the lad to whom he was 
talking was another of our old friends, James Patrick 
McNally, his office boy. 

Oi be glad, professor, to hear what ye read in that 
telegraph. I mane,” he said, correcting himself on see- 
ing a smile again on his employer’s face, “ I mane that 
telegram. Bedad,” he added to himself silently, Oi 
don’t see how it can make much difference whether Oi 
call it a telegraph or a telegram.” 

His employer was thinking over the contents of the 
message, so he said nothing. Jimmy added: 

Oi’m proud Oi kin call Rob me frind. Would ye 
loike me to carry the,” and then he hesitated, and said, 
'' thing ye have in your hand to Rob’s people, or shall 
Oi go and tell him what it says ? ” 

Suppose I said yes, James,” said the professor, 
what would you tell Robert? ” 

12 


The Land of Drought 

Sure, Oi’d say to him, ‘ Rob, your grandfather and 
father hev been seen near Mexico. Oi think ye moight 
expect them in Philadelphy at a’most any time.’ ” 

You would be making a great mistake, James, 
if you said that to Robert or to any of his people. Do 
not say anything about the matter to anybody. There 
is no certainty the prisoners are Robert’s grandfather 
and father,” and then thinking a moment, he added : 
‘‘ Do you think you can find Robert, James? ” 

‘‘ Oi think Oi kin,” was the reply. “ He’ll loikely 
be in his study with some of his chums. Or he may 
be taking a walk in the park, as he loikes to do. Shell 
Oi go and find him, sir ? ” 

“ No; call up his house on the phone,” said the pro- 
fessor to the lad’s great disappointment. 

The lad was about to pick up the phone, when he 
turned with a grin to his employer. 

‘‘ Here be Mr. Robert himself and your nephew, 
Mr. Norman,” and the two lads entered at the outer 
door. 

But for the sake of those who have not read “ A 
Chip of the Old Block,” it will be necessary here 
briefly to relate some of its principal facts. 

Robert Harold Gordon 3rd, the “ Chip of the Old 
Block,” was the only son of Robert Harold Gordon 
2nd, a noted geologist and mineralogist, who in his 
turn was the only son of Robert Harold Gordon ist, 
another celebrated mineralogist and geologist. Both 
men had suddenly and mysteriously disappeared in a 
part of Arizona near its northeastern boundary. At 

13 


The Land of Drought 

the time of his disappearance the elder Gordon was 
accompanied by an Indian guide and a Chinese cook 
named Cheng Lung. He was last seen by his friend, 
John Alexander Christian, another geologist, the gen- 
tleman who had sent the telegram already referred to. 
Gordon and Christian had spent the night together in 
a camp near a deep canon. Before leaving the next 
morning, Christian had warned his friend not to trust 
his Indian guide, since he was believed by many to have 
been responsible for the disappearance and probable 
murder of a white man for whom he had acted as a 
guide. As far as his friends knew, Gordon had never 
again been seen. 

Three years later, Robert Harold Gordon 2nd, ac- 
companied by a single cowboy guide, left the East and 
visited the part of Arizona where his father had so 
mysteriously disappeared. In his turn he also was lost 
to view, and was never afterward heard from. The 
rumor of two white men being held as prisoners by the 
Apache Indians led Christian to believe them still 
alive. 

Robert Harold Gordon 3rd, the ‘‘ Chip of the Old 
Block,” inherited marked ability for the natural 
sciences from both grandfather and father. At first he 
seemed to care but little for the studies in which these 
men had achieved such success. The story tells how, 
largely through the influence of Professor Engleman, 
Robert at last discovered his ability and became greatly 
interested first in mineralogy and afterward in geology. 

Like most healthy, growing boys, Robert was espe- 

14 


The Land of Drought 

cially fond of athletic sports. During a visit to Profess- 
or Engleman in company with his chums, Ralph Earle 
Clinton, Emil Carl Schloss, and Norman Edwin Tag- 
gart, the professor, with the hope of awakening 
Robert’s latent ability, which he believed must exist, 
had given the boys specimens of the commoner and 
more important minerals, one specimen to each, and 
had advised them to try by reading and study to find 
their names. As a help toward this, he gave each of 
them a list of the minerals, warning them, however, 
that they must rely entirely on themselves in this work, 
since he would be absent from the city for several 
weeks. The story concerns itself with the difficulties 
the boys had in finding out, almost with no mistakes, 
the correct names of the minerals. Rob’s three chums 
were jolly fellows, and since they may be unknown to 
the readers of this volume, I will describe each of them. 

Ralph Earle Clinton, now a lad of nearly sixteen, 
had so accustomed himself to looking on the bright side 
of life, that he firmly believed everything happening 
to him was a wonderful piece of good luck. Conse- 
quently, things that most boys would have regarded 
as dire calamities were hailed by him as bits of un- 
usual good fortune. For this reason, a smile was 
almost always to be found on his face. It was a smile 
that was almost constantly changing, as the lad, who 
was unusually bright, reasoned out to himself the many 
causes he believed he had for thankfulness. This smile 
was so much a part of himself that he was known by 
his boy acquaintances as ‘‘ Happy ” Clinton, and since 

15 


The Land of Drought 

boys seldom, if ever, use unnecessary words, they soon 
cut this name to “ Happy.” 

Emil Carl Schloss, of German extraction, though 
fully half a head taller than Robert, was only one year 
older. Emil was fond of chemistry. He had an uncle 
living in Colorado, where he had an assay office in one 
of the mining districts. Emil’s people encouraged his 
study of chemistry, and had permitted him to set up 
a laboratory in the cellar of their home. Originally, 
this laboratory had been located in the lad’s bedroom, 
but by reason of the unpleasant odors, occasional ex- 
plosions, and frequently threatened fires, the labora- 
tory had been banished to the cellar. In this labora- 
tory many wonderful experiments were tried by the 
boys as they endeavored to work out for themselves 
the chemical composition of the mineralogical speci- 
mens the professor had given them. 

Norman Edwin Taggart, from Boston, a nephew of 
Professor Engleman, had only recently come to Phila- 
delphia. He belonged to a type of boy, fortunately, far 
less common now than years ago. The lad’s brain had 
developed more rapidly than the rest of his body, so 
that with a well-shaped head, that required a full seven 
and a quarter-inch hat, he had a body so poorly de- 
veloped that his spindly legs were ill fitted to carry it 
about, and his equally spindly arms were unable to 
carry out the plans his brains had planned. Norman 
had spent so much of his time with older people, and so 
little with boys of his age, that his language had a 
quaintness and stiltedness that rendered him open to 

i6 


The Land of Drought 

the good-natured ridicule of his friends. Rob and his 
chums, however, had taken him in hand, and were 
rapidly making him more of a real boy. 

During one of the many baseball games they played 
in Fairmount Park, in company with James McNally, 
Rob and his chums had made the acquaintance of 
Frederick Melville Loosing, a boy about one year older 
than Rob. Fred was working for August Wilfred 
Francksen, a lapidary, who had a shop in Philadelphia 
for the cutting and polishing of diamonds and other 
precious stones. 

Fred was a curious combination of baseball enthu- 
siast and amateur mineralogist, stronger, however, 
on the baseball side. He did not possess what would 
ordinarily be regarded as a well-developed body. His 
long, lanky legs and arms were so spiderlike that he 
was known by his boy friends as “ Daddy Longlegs,” 
while the numerous spots on his face gave him the addi- 
tional nickname of “ Freckles.” What added, at a 
short distance, to his odd appearance was the fact that 
his little, pale-blue, twinkling eyes were provided with 
eyelashes and eyebrows so light in color that until 
drawing near one would suppose they had no exist- 
ence. Not so, however, the long, light-colored head of 
hair that, seldom coming under the scissors of a barber, 
fell in thick masses over his forehead, threatening to 
cover completely his eyes. He prevented this by a 
clever shake, every now and then, of his head that 
threw the hair to one side. 

The story tells how the boys, especially Robert and 
B 17 


The Lcind of Drought 

Happy, were able to give no little help to a Philadel- 
phia detective, a Mr. Blank, in the recovery of a valua- 
ble set of diamonds, on which Francksen, the lapidary, 
or gem-cutter, was at work for Petrof Blavinski, a 
Russian nobleman. 

While in Russia, Prince Dimitri, a near relative of 
the Czar of Russia, had placed in Blavinski’s care a 
valuable set of diamonds that were stolen from Bla- 
viniski, he believed, by his son. Blavinski, hoping to 
save his son, had come to America in order that 
Francksen should cut for him another set of dia- 
monds, so closely resembling those belonging to Dimi- 
tri that he would believe them to be his. Blavinski had 
selected Francksen to do this because the Dimitri dia- 
monds had been cut by him in Amsterdam, where he 
then had his shop. 

The story relates how Sigismond Mashinsky, a Rus- 
sian Jew, who was Francksen’s workman, aided by 
another Russian, Stanislaus Metchiniskoff, also a dia- 
mond-cutter from Amsterdam, stole the Blavinski 
diamonds almost immediately after Francksen had fin- 
ished cutting them. 

Not only was the Blavinski duplicate set of diamonds 
recovered, but also the diamonds belonging to Dimitri, 
which it appeared had been stolen from Blavinski by 
Metchiniskoff. On the recovery of the gems, Bla- 
vinski had set out immediately for St. Petersburg, as- 
suring the boys that he would not forget the valuable 
services they had rendered him in this matter. 


i8 


CHAPTER II 


Planning the Rescue 

As Robert and Norman were entering the outer door 
of Professor Engleman’s office, he greeted them. 

“ Glad to see you, boys,” he said. “ How are you 
doing at school, Robert ? ” 

Very well, sir,” was the reply. 

“ How about you, Norman ? ” he said, turning to 
his nephew. 

“ I believe my teachers are satisfied with the prog^ 
ress I am making,” was the reply. 

The professor still held in his hand the telegram he 
had been reading just before they came in. Rob was 
a close observer. He at once saw that the telegram 
contained something that greatly surprised the pro- 
fessor. He therefore said to Norman: 

Your uncle has received an important telegram. 
I guess we had better leave him alone for a while and 
go into the other office and talk with Jimmy.” 

Don’t go, Robert,” said the professor. “ The 
telegram interests you more than it does me. Listen, 
I will read it to you.” 

This is wonderful news,” the lad said. “ Mr. 
Christian would hardly send such a telegram if he 
had not good reasons for believing there was some 
truth in the rumors he had heard, and the probability 

19 


The Land of Drought 

of the prisoners being my grandfather and father. 
Don’t you think so, professor? ” he inquired. 

“ I do, Robert,” was the reply. Still, do not per- 
mit too strong a hope to take hold of you. So many 
years have now passed since they disappeared that it 
seems almost incredible that men like them would not 
have been able to let their friends know something of 
their whereabouts.” 

“ But they may have been kept close prisoners by the 
Indians, professor,” said Rob. “ Who are the Apaches? 
Are they dangerous savages? ” 

“ At one time I believe they were fairly decent In- 
dians. The whites did not treat them fairly so, taking 
the warpath, they became the foes of the whites.” 

“ Do they live in southeastern California? ” 

“ I believe they live in northern Arizona and New 
Mexico, and parts of Texas. I don’t understand what 
they are doing in southern California.” 

“ Are they at war with the white people now ? ” 

“ Not openly so,” was the reply, “ but their rela- 
tions are so far from friendly that they would be apt 
to do all they could to annoy the whites. I understand, 
however, that they are bitter enemies of the Navajos 
and the Havasupi Indians, who live where it is believed 
both your grandfather and father disappeared.” 

‘‘ When will Mr. Christian reach Philadelphia, 
Uncle Joseph?” inquired Norman. 

“ I don’t know,” was the reply. “ Suppose you and 
Robert go with James to the Broad Street Station of 
the Pennsylvania Railroad, and inquire at the Informa- 
20 


The Land of Drought 

tion Bureau when the next train from Pittsburgh is 
due. Get back as soon as you can.” 

Jimmy was still puzzling why the professor had ob- 
jected to his use of the word telegraph in place of 
telegram. While on their way, therefore, he en- 
deavored to get this information from Rob. 

“ Do ye moind telling me, Rob,” he said, “ what 
mistake Oi made whin Oi told the professor this after- 
noon, just before you came to the office, thot a tele- 
graph was lying on his desk in the next room ? Whin 
Oi told him thot, he looked at me quizzical-like and 
said : 

“ ‘ How did he iver manage to get it on my table ? ’ 
with a sort of laugh in his eye. And Oi told him a 
messenger boy brought it, whin he said : 

“ ^ He must have been a remarkable boy.’ 

Oi have been bothering me head, Rob, to diskiver 
why the professor was surprised whin Oi told him a 
telegraph was lying on his desk. Why did he think it 
wonderful thot a bye could have brought it into the 
office? Oi’m sure it did not weigh but a wee bit. Tell 
me, plaze, what was wonderful about it? ” 

The boys burst into laughter when Jimmy stopped 
speaking. Rob said : 

“ No wonder the professor was surprised, Jimmy. 
There’s a great difference between a telegraph and a 
telegram. The word telegraph means the poles, line 
wires, batteries, sending and receiving instruments, 
and all other things necessary to send messages from 
one place to another. A telegram would only mean a 
21 


The Land of Drought 

sheet of paper containing a message sent by the tele- 
graph. He would, indeed, have been a wonderful mes- 
senger boy who could bring into the building, and lay 
on the professor’s desk, in his private room, a tele- 
graph plant connecting Pittsburgh with Philadelphia.” 

Jimmy was a bright lad, and saw at once the mis- 
take he had made. 

“ Bedad,” he said, Jimmy McNally would niver 
hev belaved thot a few letters could make such a dif- 
ference in a thing. Why, Oi only used a ph in place 
of an m, and thot’s not much.” 

‘‘ There ain’t much difference in the spelling, 
Jimmy,” replied Rob dryly, “ and yet should you use 
the letter a in the word s-o-u-p instead of u, you 
would have soap, which differs so much from soup 
that it would not lie very comfortably on the stomach.” 

It’s a jolly bye ye are, Rob,” said Jimmy. Oi 
must try to remember this, but there’s so much Oi’m 
all the time lamin’ in the professor’s office that Oi get 
things mixed.” 

At the Broad Street Station they were informed that 
the next train from Pittsburgh would reach Philadel- 
phia at four p. m. ; that, since it was now three fifty- 
nine, and it was on time, it might reach the station at 
any moment. Inquiring on which track it would prob- 
ably come into the station, they waited outside the gate, 
and soon had the pleasure of seeing Mr. Christian, who 
at once recognized Rob. On being told that the profess- 
or was waiting for him at his office, he went there 
with them. 


22 


The Land of Drought 

The two men at once entered into a long conver- 
sation concerning the rumors about the white prison- 
ers of the Indians in southern California. Christian 
had heard these rumors on several occasions. 

Are the rumors detailed or are they only vague, 
Mr. Christian ? ” inquired the professor. 

“Very vague, I regret to say, professor,” was the 
reply. 

“ Then, why do you connect these men with the 
Gordons?” inquired Engleman. 

“ Because the rumors were to the effect that the two 
men were related to each other, and that the younger 
man, at the time that he was taken prisoner, had been 
searching for the older.” 

“ Have you formed any plans, Christian ? ” inquired 
Engleman. 

“ I have,” was the reply. “ I knew from the letter 
you sent me some time ago that you expected to make 
an examination and report on certain mining claims 
in the Colorado Desert. Now, I also have examina- 
tions and reports on claims to make in the same section. 
It therefore occurred to me that if we could arrange to 
go together, we might be able to do something toward 
finding these white men, and rescue them, whoever 
they are.” 

“ ril join you gladly, Christian,” said Engleman, 
“ provided you do not wish to start for a few weeks.” 

“ That will just suit me. I had planned starting 
about a fortnight from now.” 

Rob said nothing while this converstaion was taking 

23 


The Land of Drought 

place. As soon as the opportunity presented itself, he 
said to the professor: 

Professor, if my grandmother and mother are 
willing for me to go, would you object to taking me? ” 
“ As far as I am concerned,” was the reply, I 
would certainly have no objection. From what I know 
of you, I feel sure you are abundantly able to take care 
of yourself. Instead of being in the way you could 
be of help. Besides, it seems to me entirely proper that 
you should make one of the party to search for your 
missing relations. What do you say, Christian, do you 
object to the lad going with us?” 

Let him go by all means,” was the reply. I 
would like to have him with us.” 

O Uncle Joseph,” exclaimed Norman, ‘‘ don’t you 
think such a trip would be of great value to me? 
While I know I could not help like Rob, yet such a 
trip would certainly teach me to take care of myself.” 

If it did not, Norman,” replied his uncle grimly, 
there would soon not be much of you left to take 
care of. However, if your people are willing, I will 
take you.” 

Both Rob and Norman were greatly excited at the 
prospect before them. Robert felt quite sure that his 
mother and grandmother would not object to his go- 
ing. As for Norman, he knew his parents had great 
confidence in his uncle, and were desirous that he 
should be more like other boys of his age. He thought, 
therefore, that they would make no opposition to his 
going. 


24 


The Land of Drought 

When the two gentleman had finished their conver- 
sation the professor, turning to the boys, said : 

I must warn you, my lads, that the trip we are 
about to take is one that will require great endurance. 
We shall start on our search from Yuma, a town 
near the extreme southwestern corner of Arizona, not 
far from the Mexican border. The Colorado Desert, 
through which we shall pass, is one of the most ab- 
solute deserts in the southwestern parts of the United 
States. It lies many feet below the level of the Gulf of 
California. The temperature is very high. In the 
heat of summer the land becomes hot enough to burn 
the bare feet almost like highly heated iron. At times 
we shall be almost sure to suffer greatly from the 
heat and possibly thirst. We shall be exposed to 
poisonous reptiles, snakes, scorpions, and spiders. 
Does not all this frighten you, Robert?” he inquired. 

“No, sir,” was the reply; “and even if it did, I 
would not let it keep me at home. It is my grandfather 
and father we are searching for.” 

Robert was so earnest in his reply that the pro- 
fessor feared the lad thought he was questioning his 
courage, so he said: 

“ I did not for a moment suppose, Robert, the dan- 
gers would frighten you. But how is it about you, 
Norman? ” he said, turning to his nephew. “ Would 
you not be afraid to go so far from home ? ” 

“ I am not afraid. Uncle Joseph,” replied the lad. 
“If you are along I am willing to take my chances 
with the others.” 


25 


The Land of Drought 

“ Bravo, Norman,” was the reply. ‘‘ You are cer- 
tainly very different now from the lad who came from 
Boston to Philadelphia a short time ago.” 

It was dinner-time when the men and boys reached 
the Gordon residence on Green Street. The glad news 
contained in the telegram was fully discussed by both 
ladies and gentlemen while at the table. 

‘‘ Mother,” said Robert, “ I hope you will not object 
to my going with Professor Engleman and Mr. Chris- 
tian on this search; for it is my grandfather and 
father that we hope to find.” 

I hardly know what to say, Robert,” replied his 
mother. “ This family had lost all its men, and 
you are the only boy. However, I feel that it is proper 
you should accompany them. What do you say, 
mother?” she said, turning to Rob’s grandmother. 

‘‘ I say let Robert go. Even if the expedition is a 
failure so far as the discovery of our lost ones is 
concerned, it will be of great help to him in the profes- 
sion he has chosen. Therefore I say let him go.” 

“ When will we probably leave for Yuma, pro- 
fessor?” inquired Robert. 

“We hope to be able to start in about two weeks 
from to-day, provided we can arrange our other busi- 
ness engagements by that time.” 

“ Supposing that Norman’s people will let him go 
with us, is there anything you would like us to study or 
do before leaving? ” 

“ Yes,” was the reply; “ in the first place, Robert, do 
you know anything about the use of firearms? ” 

26 


The Land of Drought 

Yes,” replied Rob, ‘‘ I’m a fairly good shot.” 

And how about you, Norman? ” 

“ I know nothing whatever about them, but I sup- 
pose I might learn.” 

Very well,” replied the professor, I will make 
arrangements at a shooting-gallery in the city that 
regular instruction shall be given to you, Robert, and 
to you also, Norman,” he added, if your parents 
are willing you should accompany us.” 

“And how about studying or reading?” inquired 
Robert. 

“ I wish you to do considerable in that line,” was the 
reply. “ You are now, as I know, fairly well up in 
mineralogy. You had better begin reading something 
about geology, a study closely connected with mineral- 
ogy. Geology treats of the forces that gave the 
earth its present outlines. But of this I will tell you 
more at another time.” 


27 


CHAPTER III 


Happy's Good Luck 

“ I THINK I can read on your face that your people 
have agreed to let you go with us, Norman,” cried 
Rob when his friend called at the house the next 
morning, as agreed, to talk over matters. ‘‘ Am I 
right?” 

You are a great fellow at guessing, Rob,” replied 
Norman. I am happy to say that Uncle Joseph suc- 
ceeded in persuading them to let me go. Am I glad ? 
Well, I should say so. If this journey does not make 
me a more manly fellow I don’t believe anything will. 
Rob,” he added, turning to his friend earnestly-, “ you’ll 
help me as much as you can, won’t you? I have so 
much to learn about what a boy should be that I am 
sure to make many mistakes. But you’ll help me, won’t 
you, old fellow ? ” 

I will do all I can, Norman. While you have 
much to learn, there is this in your favor. There is 
nothing of the coward about you. At least if there is 
you have been able to hide it all right during the 
half-year or more I have known you. If a fellow has 
courage he will have much to aid him in the kind of 
work for which you ask my help, as well as for the 
work that is cut out for all of us while crossing the 
desert.” 


28 


The Land of Drought 

“ You are a good fellow, Rob,” said Norman. “ I 
was sure you would stand by me. I expect we will have 
great times on the desert. I say, Rob, won’t Happy 
and Emil be surprised to hear where we are going? ” 

“ I’m sure Happy will,” was the reply, but I don’t 
believe Emil will ; at least not for a month or so.” 

“ Oh, come now, Rob,” exclaimed Norman, ‘‘ you 
are trying to jolly me. Why do you think Emil will 
not be surprised for some time to come ? ” 

“ Because,” replied Rob, “ he has left Philadelphia 
for Colorado. Let me read you a letter I received 
from him last night.” 

“ Emil gone to the West without bidding his chums 
good-bye! That does surprise me. Read the letter, 
please.” 

‘‘Listen, then,” replied Rob. 

“ My Dear Rob ; 

“ I was very sorry yesterday afternoon not to be able to find 
you or any other of my chums. I called at your house to say 
good-bye, for I’m off on a journey to the West, and it will prob- 
ably be many years before I again see you or any of my other 
chums. 

“ As you know, my uncle, the chemist, has an assay office in 
the southwestern part of Colorado, at one of the great mining 
camps near Leadville. He came East yesterday on a visit to 
father. He could only stay for a part of the day. 

“ He talked with me about chemistry, and appeared surprised 
at the progress I had made; for he offered me work in his 
laboratory, at good pay, provided I could go with him that night 
for the West. 

“ I wished very much to bid you and the other boys good-bye, 
especially Happy, Norman, Jimmy, and Fred; but it was impos- 
sible. My parents were unwilling I should travel alone, and it 

29 


The Land of Drought 

was impossible for my uncle to wait. I therefore take this way, 
my dear fellow, of saying good-bye to you and my other chums. 
Many have been the happy times we have had together in the old 
cellar laboratory, as well as in that cozy study at your house in 
puzzling out the names of our mineral specimens. But those days 
are now all over. Tell the boys how sorry I am not to be able 
to bid them good-bye in person. 

“Try to write me as often as possible, so as to let me know 
what you are doing. Any letters you address to me to the care 
of Heinrich Carl Schloss, Leadville, Colo., will be forwarded 
to me. 

“ My uncle tells me I shall be able to get many good specimens 
of gold and silver ores at the camps and in this neighborhood, and 
that by sending them on by freight the charges will not be so 
very great. You may, therefore, expect to receive a number of 
good specimens as soon as I get acquainted here and have an 
opportunity to look around. 

“Your old chum, 

“ 1 his is great news, Rob,” exclaimed Norman, 
when his friend had finished reading. “ I’m sorry 
Emil could not see any of us before leaving, but I 
imagine this is a good opening for him.” 

At this moment Happy came into the room. He was 
now so well known at Rob’s house that the servant 
who opened the door asked him to go direct to Rob’s 
study . 

As Happy entered the room, Rob said in a jollying 
tone : 

“ Have you had any good luck lately. Happy ? 
From the smile I see on your face I imagine some- 
thing has happened that pleases you.” 

“ Nothing you fellows would call good luck,” was 
the reply, ‘‘ but good enough luck for me. Emil in- 

30 


The Land of Drought 

vited me to spend the afternoon with him in his cellar 
laboratory. You know how much I like to visit there. 
I have called on my way to ask you to go along with 
me, and you too, Norman. I am sure Emil will be 
pleased to have you come.” 

“ So that was your good luck. Happy, was it ? ” said 
Rob. “ Have you not seen Emil since day before yes- 
terday ? ” 

“ No; I went with mother yesterday to call on some 
friends out of the city, and was away all day.” 

“ Then, listen,” said Rob, reading Emil’s letter. 
‘‘ Now what have you to say about that good luck of 
yours ? ” 

They carefully watched Happy’s countenance, ex- 
pecting to see disappointment in his face. But Happy 
began to smile as if pleased at what he had heard. 

“ How pleasant it is,” he remarked, ‘‘ to know that 
Emil has been so fortunate as to be taken by his uncle 
to the West. He will have a splendid opportunity for 
studying chemistry, as well as mineralogy.” And then, 
when Rob read Emil’s reference to Rob and his other 
boy friends, his smile broadened. It’s jolly, is it not, 
for a fellow to have his friends think so well of him? ” 

It was evident that Happy was in earnest. Wishing 
to test his friend, Rob said : 

“ That’s all true. Happy, though I don’t see where 
you come in. But, listen, I now have more news for 
you. What would you say if I told you that Norman 
and I were going to leave Philadelphia with Profes- 
sor Engleman and Mr. Christian on a trip to the desert 

31 


The Land of Drought 

region of southwestern Arizona and southeastern Cali- 
fornia ? ” 

He then went on to tell Happy about the telegram 
Professor Engleman had received from Mr. Christian, 
and the wonderful news it contained concerning the 
possible presence of his grandfather and father in that 
part of the country. 

So much of the last half-year of Happy’s life had 
been spent with these boy friends, that the news that 
they too were to be taken away from him for an in- 
definite time was indeed a great blow. Fortunately, 
he had accustomed himself to find much of his happi- 
ness in the pleasure and enjoyment of his friends. 
He, therefore, said to Rob: 

“ Of course I’ll greatly miss both you and Norman, 
especially now that Emil has gone, but I’m glad to 
know that this trip will be so pleasant to you, especially 
if it should be the means of your finding your rela- 
tives. You must agree with me that this is a wonder- 
ful piece of good luck that has happened to me. For 
what should make one more happy than to see his 
friends happy ? ” 

Rob said nothing. He saw that his chum was 
thoroughly in earnest in what he said. So he grasped 
him warmly by the hand, saying : 

“ You are a mighty unselfish fellow. Happy. I’m 
proud you are my friend. How I wish you were 
going with us ! ” 

“ I would like to go all right,” was the reply ; “ but 
as there is no chance I won’t fret.” 


32 


The Land of Drought 

While the boys were talking a servant came into 
the room and handed Rob a card, saying : 

“ The gentleman wishes to see you for a few mo- 
ments. When I told him that Mr. Happy was with 
you, he said : ‘ Please ask Mr. Robert to bring Mr. 
Happy with him, for I wish to see both of them.’ ” 

“I wonder what this means. Happy?” exclaimed 
Rob. “ The name on this card is August Wilfred 
Francksen. You remember he is our old friend, the 
lapidary. Have you any idea what he wants with us ? ” 

“ None, whatever, Rob,” was the reply. “ Let’s go 
downstairs and see him. I imagine it will not take 
him long to tell us. Come down with us, Norman,” he 
added, turning to his friend. 

‘‘ I fear I might intrude,” was the reply. 

“I don’t believe you would,” replied Rob; “but if 
you find the gentleman wishes to speak to us privately 
you can easily excuse yourself.” 

On reaching the parlor, Mr. Francksen said: 

“ I am fortunate in finding you together ; for what 
I wish to say interests both of you.” Seeing that Nor- 
man was about to leave the room, he said : “ Don’t 
go, my lad. There is nothing private. On the con- 
trary, I am sure that what I am about to say will both 
interest and please you.” 

And then addressing himself especially to Rob and 
Happy, he said: 

“ You remember the valuable services you rendered 
Blavinski, the Russian nobleman, in the recovery of 
the Dimitri and the Blavinski diamonds.” 

33 


The Land of Drought 

“ I don’t think that either Happy or I did so very 
much in that case. I thought it had all been forgot- 
ten,” replied Rob. 

“ Not at all,” replied Mr. Francksen. Listen, 
while I read a letter I received to-day from St. Peters- 
burg, Russia.” He then read the following: 

“ St. Petersburg, Russia. 

“ My Dear Mr. Francksen : 

“ Thanks to your skilful work in cutting and polishing the 
Blavinski diamonds, together with the help of Mr. Blank and the 
efficient aid rendered him by the two lads, Robert Harold Gor- 
don 3rd and Ralph Earle Clinton, I reached St. Petersburg in 
time to deliver to Prince Dimitri the valuable diamonds he had 
entrusted to my keeping. You may care to know that Prince 
Dimitri has recently been married to one of the near relatives 
of the czar, and wished these diamonds as a present to his bride. 

“ The evidence that the Dimitri diamonds had been stolen by 
Metchiniskoff was so conclusive that I thought it best to tell 
Prince Dimitri all that had happened, and begged that he would 
permit me to send the duplicate set in his name to the sister of 
the bride, who was to be one of the bridesmaids. This greatly 
pleased him. 

“ I write now to say I had fully intended to leave some little 
evidence of my appreciation of the services the boys rendered 
me. I have already amply compensated Mr. Blank. I am, there- 
fore, enclosing a letter of credit to the amount of five thousand 
dollars in your name, and I wish you to take charge of this as 
trustee for the two boys, asking Professor Engleman, with whom 
I understand you are well acquainted and who is interested in 
both lads, to act as co-trustee. 

“ I would like you and your colleague to devise some plan by 
which this money can be applied directly for the pleasure and 
benefit of the two lads. I do not wish it to be spent by their 
families. While I will not dictate just how it shall be expended, 
I would suggest that since, as I understand, both boys are in- 
terested in mineralogy and geology, and since their friend, Pro- 

34 


The Land of Drought 

fessor Engleman, frequently makes professional trips to distant 
parts of the United States, that, provided the professor is willing, 
and the consent of the lads’ parents can be obtained, he take 
them with him. I believe money expended in this way would 
not only please the boys, but would also greatly benefit them. 

“ Trusting that you will be willing to attend to this matter 
for me, and can persuade your Professor Engleman to act with 
with you, I am, 

“With great respect, "Blavinski.” 

When Mr. Francksen had finished reading the Bla- 
vinski letter, Rob and Norman seized Happy by the 
hand, shouting: 

“ If your people are only willing to let you go along 
with us, Happy, on our great trip, it will be grand.” 

‘‘What are you talking about, Robert?” inquired 
Mr. Francksen. “ What is the trip to which you 
refer?” 

When Rob explained the great news Mr. Christian’s 
telegram had brought concerning the possibility of his 
grandfather and father being still alive, Mr. Franck- 
sen became greatly interested, and said: 

“ I am glad to know that Engleman and Christian 
are going on this search and intend taking you and 
Norman,” he said, Speaking to Rob. “ As far as I 
am concerned, I heartily approve of the expenditure 
of the money sent by Blavinski for this purpose. I will 
call on Professor Engleman at once, urge him to ac- 
cept the trust with me, and see if he is willing to have 
Happy accompany him. I suppose you would like 
to go, would you not, my lad ? ” he inquired, turning 
to Happy. 


35 


The Land of Drought 

“Would I like to, sir?” exclaimed Happy enthu- 
siastically. “ Try me! I won’t keep you long waiting 
for an answer.” 

“ Do you think your people would be willing to have 
you go? ” inquired Mr. Francksen. 

“ I am almost sure they would, sir,” was the reply. 
“ They know I am able to take care of myself, and I 
believe they would be glad to have me go, since it 
would be of such a help to me in the study of min- 
eralogy and geology.” 

“ Then,” said Mr. Francksen, “ suppose we all call 
on Professor Engleman and see what he says about 
the matter.” 

“ Wait a moment, Mr. Francksen,” said Rob, “ I 
will call up the professor’s office on the phone and see 
if he is in.” 

In a few moments Rob returned and said : 

“ The professor is in and will be glad to see us. I 
have not told him anything about Mr. Blavinski’s let- 
ter, Mr. Francksen, since I thought you would like to 
be the first to break the news to him.” 

After learning of the reward Blavinski had bestowed 
on the boys, and of his request. Professor Engleman 
agreed to act as co-trustee with Mr. Francksen, and 
succeeded without much difficulty in obtaining the 
consent of Happy’s family to his going with them to 
the Southwest, and to have the money expended for 
this purpose. 


36 


CHAPTER IV 


Fragmental Rocks 

^ There was so much to talk about, and so many things 
to be done, that, as was quite natural during their wa- 
king hours, the three boys were now almost always to- 
gether. They had met the next day at Rob’s house 
in order to call on Professor Engleman, who wished 
to give them some information on geology so that they 
would be the better able to understand some of the 
things they saw while in the field. 

While walking to the professor’s office, Rob said : 

Can you shoot, Happy? ” 

‘‘ Do you mean with a rifle, or a pistol ? ” inquired 
Happy. 

“ With both,” said Rob. 

Yes,” said Happy, I’m a pretty good shot. I 
can both shoot and ride. I never told you, Rob, that 
before I came to Philadelphia I lived on a ranch in 
Texas. Here, I learned both to shoot and ride. I 
think it was because I have been used to life in the 
open that my parents were willing I should go with 
you. I don’t believe I have forgotten how to shoot, 
although it has been some time since I have had a gun 
in my hands.” 

‘‘ I’m glad to know you’re up on guns and horses. 
Happy,” said Rob. ‘‘ I wonder if we can persuade 
37 


The Land of Drought 

Mr. Francksen and the professor to buy rifles and 
pistols for us with some of the money left in their care. 
Such things will be very handy when in a desert like 
that we expect to cross. When a fellow wants a rifle 
or a pistol he is apt to want it very badly.” 

You talk as if you had been there, Rob,” said 
Happy smiling. “ But,” he added, “ we don’t call them 
rifles or pistols in Texas, or in the West generally.” 

“What do you call them?” inquired Norman in 
surprise. 

“ We call them guns,” said Happy. 

On reaching the professor’s office, Rob said : 

“ Professor, Happy tells me he knows how to han- 
dle both the rifle and the pistol; or, as he calls them, 
guns. It seems that he spent most of his life before 
coming to Philadelphia on a ranch in Texas.” 

“ I’m glad to hear that,” said the professor. “ I will 
speak to the instructor at the shooting-gallery, and 
have him give lessons to Happy as well as to you and 
Norman.” 

“ I have been wondering, professor,” said Rob, 
“ whether some of the money left with you and Mr. 
Francksen by Mr. Blavinski might be used to pur- 
chase guns, as well as to pay our other expenses.” 

“ There will be plenty for both,” was the reply. 
“ I’ll talk with Mr. Francksen about the matter, and if 
he agrees, as I think he will. I’ll ask the instructor at 
the gallery to go with us to-morrow and pick out for 
each of you one of the best rifles and revolvers he can 
find. At the same time, Norman, I will make you a 

38 


H The Land of Drought 

present of the same kind he selects for Happy and 
Rob.” 

Thank you, Uncle Joseph, you are very liberal,” 
exclaimed Norman. 

‘‘ Read up as much as you can about geology, boys,” 
said the professor. “ While in the field you will have 
use for all the information you can obtain. What 
books have you on geology in your father’s library, 
Robert? ” 

There are a great many,” was the reply. Be- 
sides a large work by Dana, there is one by LeConte, 
several volumes by Lyell, two by Prestwich, one by 
Geikie, one by Scott, one by Winchell, and a number of 
others.” 

‘‘ All the books you mention are excellent,” said 
the professor. “ I promised you the other day I would 
tell you something as to the difference between min- 
eralogy and geology. I will do this now. 

“ As you know, mineralogy describes the different 
substances of which our earth is formed. Although 
there are very many kinds of substances in the earth’s 
crust, yet there are only between eight hundred and 
one thousand different species of minerals. 

'' Geology tells about the earth as a whole,” he con- 
tinued. It not only describes the parts of the earth 
that project above the general surface as mountains 
and hills, plateaus and plains, but also about the parts 
that lie below the surface, and are therefore out of 
sight. It explains how the substances of the earth’s 
crust have been formed and arranged, either in beds or 
39 


The Land of Drought 

Strata, or in masses ; geology tells how the surface has 
been raised in some places to form mountains and hills, 
and depressed in others to form the ocean basins. It 
tells about the animals and plants that lived on the 
earth millions and millions of years before man was 
created.’' 

Some of the books in the library I named are very 
large, professor,” said Rob laughing. I don’t sup- 
pose you expect us to get very far in them in the short 
time we have before leaving for the West.” 

I only expect you to obtain a general idea of the 
subject, Robert,” was the reply. You will con- 
stantly be in the field with Mr. Christian and myself, 
where I am sure we shall be able to teach you much 
about both mineralogy and geology. There is, how- 
ever, enough time before leaving Philadelphia to get 
some idea of the general principles of geology. I would 
suggest that you begin by taking up the subject of 
rocks. Since rocks include all the mineral substances 
composing the earth’s crust, you can see that the subject 
is a big one. However, I can briefly explain to you the 
different kinds of rocks that form most of the portion 
of the earth we have been able to study. 

“ In the first place,” he continued, “ there are rocks 
that are formed by various mineral substances that 
have escaped from the interior in a fused or molten 
condition, and have afterward cooled and become solid. 
These are known as igneous rocks. 

‘‘ Then,” he continued, there is another large class 
of rocks that consist of fragments that have been 
40 


The Land of Drought 

broken in various ways from older rocks. These are 
known as fragmental rocks. The broken fragments 
have been spread or arranged by the action of water in 
more or less regular layers or strata, in such a manner 
that they have been roughly sorted into different sizes. 
They are, therefore, sometimes known as aqueous 
rocks. They are also known as stratified rocks; and, 
since they consist of sediment, are sometimes also called 
sedimentary rocks. 

It was at one time believed that there were only 
two kinds of rocks; namely, igneous and aqueous 
rocks, but this was a long time ago. It is now known 
that there is a very important class of rocks that oc- 
cupies an intermediate ^position between the aqueous 
and the igneous. These are known as metamorphic 
rocks. 

Metamorphic rocks,” he continued, are those that 
were thrown down in layers in water. They consist of 
the fragments of older rocks arranged in regular 
layers. In other words, they are stratified rocks. 
Under the influence of a high temperature, a great and 
long-continued pressure in the presence of an alkaline 
water, the aqueous rocks have lost all traces of strati- 
fication, as well as of the separate fragments of which 
they were originally composed. These are known as 
metamorphic rocks. In many cases this change has 
been so complete, that at one time many metamorphic 
rocks were believed to be true igneous rocks. They are 
now, however, known to be merely highly changed or 
metamorphosed fragmental rocks. 

41 


The Land of Drought 

“ Since both igneous and metamorphic rocks fre- 
quently contain more or less well-formed crystals 
throughout their mass, they are sometimes called crys- 
talline rocks. Some igneous rocks, however, are either 
non-crystalline, or their crystals are so minute as to be 
invisible except under the microscope. 

“ Besides the rocks I have already mentioned,” con- 
tinued the professor, “ there are others, such as lime- 
stones, deposited by water containing lime in solution. 
Examples of such limestones are found in the beds of 
travertine, as well as in the stalagmites and stalactites 
that are often found in the caves of many limestone 
districts. 

There are still other rocks,” continued the pro- 
fessor, formed entirely of the remains of animals and 
plants. Examples of these are found in enormous 
beds of limestone that occur in the different geological 
formations; in the great beds of coal, lignite, or peat, 
found in various parts of the world ; in the deposits of 
silex, or quartz, obtained from sponges, or from the 
minute animalculae called diatoms, as well as many 
other kinds of life. 

“ You must not suppose,” continued the professor, 

that these are the only rocks that exist. I have only 
named them because they are the important kinds.” 

While the professor was naming the rocks the boys 
said nothing. It was evident from the appearance of 
their faces, especially that of Happy, that they were 
greatly interested in the knowledge they were obtain- 
ing. Norman appeared especially impressed with the 
42 


The Land of Drought 

great variety to be found in the different kinds of rocks, 
and so expressed himself to his uncle. 

'' Now,” said the professor, “ I wish you to see what 
you can find in the books at Rob’s, or from those you 
can obtain at the public libraries, about one kind of 
rocks only ; that is, fragmental rocks. See what you 
can tell me to-morrow about the many kinds of rocks 
that can properly be called fragmental.” 

The boys were loud in their praises of the clear 
manner in which the professor had pointed out the 
great classes of rocks. 

“ He is a wonderful teacher, Rob,” exclaimed 
Happy. 

“ He is,” was the reply. “ I don’t believe you can 
find a better. We shall be fortunate in being in the 
field with such a man, and, if I am not mistaken, we’ll 
find Mr. Christian another great teacher. Let’s meet 
early to-morrow in my study and talk the matter over. 
I will loan you some of the books at our house, so that 
you may read up on the subject of fragmental rocks. 
We will then compare notes, and I hope we’ll have 
something to tell the professor to-morrow.” 

Each of the boys had much information about frag- 
mental rocks when they next met in Rob’s study. 
Without attempting to repeat their conversation, I will 
only say that they reached the correct conclusion that 
not only were the harder rocks like the sandstones, 
granites, gneisses, etc., fragmental rocks, but also the 
loose beds of gravel, sand, and mud, since they were 
formed of pieces of older rocks of various sizes and 
43 


The Land of Drought 

shapes. In other words, that it was not necessary for 
the fragmental materials to be consolidated to be re- 
garded correctly as a rock. 

A great advantage is to be gained in the study of 
natural science by persuading a number of bright lads 
to come together and freely discuss the matter. The 
boys had not been talking about fragmental rocks long 
before Norman asked : 

“ Where do the fragments come from? Do either of 
you fellows know ? ” 

Happy answered this question. 

“ They are the bits of older rocks that have been 
smashed or chewed into pieces in various ways. As 
well as I can make out from what I have read, the 
process is called weathering. When any ' hard rock 
surface is exposed to the weather — that is, to heat, 
moisture, and air — it is broken into pieces because it 
expands or grows larger when heated, and contracts 
or grows smaller when cooled. At the same time, when 
the water that soaks into the rock, especially that which 
fills its crevices, freezes, the ice so formed swells or 
occupies a larger space, and so breaks the rocks into 
fragments. I believe too, that there are various acid 
substances in the water, carbonic acid gas obtained 
from the air or earth, or dilYerent acids formed by 
rotting plants. These acids dissolve some of the min- 
erals in the rocks, and this also tends to break them up 
into fragments. In these ways the rocks on the surface 
are soon covered with the broken rock or soil in which 
plants grow. Am I right, Rob ? ’’ 


The Land of Drought 

“ That’s the way I understand it, Happy,” said Rob. 
“ But the broken rock does not remain where it is 
formed. It gradually slips down the slopes of the 
land into the rivers, and is spread out over their chan- 
nels or over the beds of the lakes or oceans into which 
they empty. It is in this way that fragmental rocks are 
formed.” 

“ Do you know how the fragments of rocks are 
hardened into solid rocks, Rob? ” inquired Norman. 

“ I think,” was the reply, “ this hardening is not 
unlike that in which mortar binds or holds together 
the different stones in a wall, or the bricks in a house 
together.” 

‘‘ But what are the cements that hold the fragments 
of rocks together ? ” inquired Norman. 

I can tell you,” exclaimed Happy. “ They some- 
times consist of lime in solution. You see, if water 
trickling through a bed of sand deposits limestone, the 
particles of sand would be bound together; or, if a 
water containing iron in solution deposited iron rust 
between the particles, they would also be bound to- 
gether. In the same way water containing silica, or 
clay, would also act as a cement.” 

I understand it now,” said Norman. Where 
sand particles are bound together a rock called 
sandstone is formed. If the cementing stuff is lime, 
it is called a calcareous sandstone ; if iron, it is known 
as a ferruginous sandstone; if silica, a silicious sand- 
stone; and if clay, an argillaceous sandstone.” 

“ They are pretty big names, are they not ? ” said 

45 


The Land of Drought 

Happy with a smile. “ But they are simple, all the 
same, when a fellow understands them. Now what 
can you tell us, Rob ? ” 

‘‘ That fragmental rocks are also named accord- 
ing to the size, shape, and kind of fragments of which 
they are formed,” replied Rob. ‘‘ When they consist 
of angular fragments, bound together, they form what 
are known as breccias. When they consist of rounded 
masses, they form what are called conglomerates; if 
the fragments are shaped like grains of sand, they 
form sandstones; if they consist of mud, they form 
shales or slates.” 

The boys spent several hours talking about frag- 
mental rocks. At last Rob said to his companions : 

‘‘ I think I know a question the professor may ask.” 

‘‘What is that, Rob?” inquired Happy. 

“ The names of the different kinds of fragments that 
form fragmentary rocks,” replied Rob. 

“ And suppose he did, Rob ? ” inquired Happy. 
“ What would you say ? ” 

“ Sand, gravel, earth, mud, and soil.” 

“Correct,” said Happy smiling; “and you might 
add clay, chalk, and ooze.” 

“ I am much pleased with what you have learned, 
boys,” said the professor that afternoon; and, after 
discussing several things with them and explaining 
several in detail, he said : 

“ Suppose to-morrow afternoon you see what you 
can learn about the kinds of markings that are found 
on rocks, and come here about the same hour.” 

46 


The Land of Drought 

He then said to them: 

“ I have spoken to Francksen about the purchase of 
rifles and pistols for you. I have also asked the in- 
structor at the gallery to meet us to-morrow, when we 
will pick out repeating rifles and revolvers. By the 
way, boys,^’ he continued, “ since we shall leave Phila- 
delphia in about ten days, I have suggested to your 
families that you be permitted to leave school now. 
You will thus be able to spend all of your time getting 
ready/' 


47 


CHAPTER V 


Rifles and Revolvers 

I HAVE often heard it remarked that every wide-awake 
boy takes as naturally to pistols or rifles as ducks do 
to water. While I doubt the universal truth of this 
statement, I acknowledge it is far more difficult to find 
a boy who cares nothing about firearms than it is to 
find a boy who likes them. 

Our three boys, Rob, Happy, and Norman, all liked 
to have to do with guns, as they now called them, al- 
though this liking was far less developed in Norman 
than in the others. Consequently, when the instructor 
at the shooting-gallery accompanied the professor and 
the boys the next morning to a well-known sporting- 
goods store on Market Street, the boys were greatly in- 
terested, especially when they heard the professor say ; 

I wish the boys to have the best weapons money 
can buy. Of course,” he added, “ I don’t want to put 
money in mere ornamentation, but I want you to pick 
out weapons that can be relied on to go off when 
properly handled, and not before.” 

If you wish me to pick out the best money can 
buy,” said the instructor, “ you have come to the right 
place to do it. Have we not ? ” he said, addressing 
the salesman who was waiting to attend him. 

‘‘ That’s what we think here,” was the reply. 

48 


The Land of Drought 

“ There are many guns on the market, professor,” 
said the instructor. “ Some are so poorly made as to 
be dangerous to use. They may explode at any mo- 
ment. The triggers are so badly constructed that 
they either require so strong a pull as to throw the 
weapon out of line when properly sighted, or they go 
off so easily that there is danger of premature explo- 
sion. As you have left it to me to pick out the guns, I 
will select only those made by manufacturers who never 
put poor material in their goods; who carefully test 
them as to strength, construction, and correct action; 
who are so careful as to what they put on the market, 
that their names or trademarks are sufficient guarantee 
for the excellency of the goods. Am I not right ? ” he 
said, turning to the salesman. 

“ There are a number of manufacturers,” was the 
reply, “ whose names are guarantee for the character 
of the goods. Indeed,” he added, “ we only handle 
goods of reliable makers, though, naturally, some are 
better than others.” 

“ Have you any particular make in mind ? ” inquired 
the professor of the instructor. 

‘‘ I suppose you will want magazine rifles and re- 
volvers,” was the reply. “ Now, I think all will be 
satisfied if I select Winchester magazine or repeating 
rifles, and the Smith and Wesson revolvers. What 
would you say of those makes?” he inquired of the 
salesman. 

‘‘ They are among the best, if indeed not the best, 
that money can buy,” was the reply. 

D 49 


The Land of Drought 

Then, please show us some of your best grade of 
Winchester guns, with rifled barrels and magazine 
chambers,” said the instructor. “ Since the lads are 
young, they should have light weapons capable of 
taking shells of fairly large caliber.” 

“ You ask me to show you our best grade of Win- 
chester rifles. I cannot do that. There is but one 
grade of Winchester goods,” replied the salesman, 
“ and that is the best. Of course, if you desire to spend 
a lot of money on mere ornamentation, that’s another 
matter. I can sell you goods inlaid with gold, silver, 
or platinum; I can sell you gold and silver-plated 
goods; or goods on which a lot of money has been 
spent in engraving or carving. But they are no better, 
so far as the quality of the material is concerned. The 
same kind of material is put in all Winchester maga- 
zine or repeating guns. Of course, you don’t want to 
spend money this way, do you ? ” 

“ No,” said the instructor, “ we don’t want fancy 
fixings, but good, everyday, working guns.” 

Fortunately for the boys, the salesman who was 
waiting on them not only thoroughly understood his 
business, but did not hesitate to take the time neces- 
sary to answer all questions, and let them thoroughly 
examine the different styles of goods they had for 
sale. But, what was more fortunate, he evidently 
liked to talk with the boys, who, of course, listened with 
interest to what was being said : 

If you wish anything explained, don’t hesitate to 
ask questions, my lads,” he said. “ I guess, between 

50 


The Land of Drought 

US,” he said, speaking in a laughing tone to the in- 
structor, “ we can manage to answer any questions 
they may put to us.” 

“ We’ll make a try at it at any rate,” was the laugh- 
ing reply. 

It was evident from an examination of some of 
the rifles shown, that the material employed in the 
barrels was not the same. On being asked to explain 
this, the salesman replied : 

“ All forgings in Winchester goods are made either 
from soft, drop-rolled steel, or from nickel steel. The 
cartridges are either loaded with black powder or with 
smokeless powder. Smokeless powder drives out the 
ball with a greater speed than the ordinary gun- 
powder, and therefore produces greater pressure in 
the barrel. The gun-barrel, therefore, must be made of 
stronger steel. In some cases it must have a tensile 
strength of over one hundred and ten thousand pounds 
to the square inch, and an elastic limit of over ninety 
thousand pounds. Even the guns of other calibers 
must be made of steel having a tensile strength of 
sixty thousand pounds to the square inch, and an 
elastic limit of over forty thousand pounds. This is 
far in excess of the pressure developed by any car- 
tridge they are intended to shoot.” 

At another time, while examining the goods, refer- 
ence was made to the testing of the barrels. Norman 
inquired how the barrels were tested. 

‘‘ You should know, my lad,” replied the salesman, 
'' that the barrel is the most important part of the gun. 

51 


The Land of Drought 

It is the method employed in the manufacture of the 
Winchester barrel that has given to it the high reputa- 
tion it possesses in all parts of the world. Although 
the plan adopted is difficult, I think I can make it plain 
to you. When the barrel has been ^ rough-bored,’ as the 
first boring is called, it is tested, or proved, for strength, 
the soft-steel barrel for either black powder or low- 
pressure smokeless powder, and the nickel-steel barrel 
for high-pressure smokeless powder. In making the 
proof the barrel is locked to a firing table, and when of 
soft steel its shell is loaded with a charge of powder 
and lead twice as great as that intended to be ordi- 
narily used. It is then fired. The same thing is done 
with nickel-steel barrels, except that here a pressure of 
only thirty per cent, greater than that ordinarily em- 
ployed is used. 

‘‘ The barrel is inspected after these proofs,” con- 
tinued the salesman, and condemned if it shows the 
slightest signs of strain or imperfection. All barrels 
that pass are then straightened and given a second 
or final boring. They are then again straightened, and 
subjected to a test for irregularities in the interior of 
the barrel. The barrel is then rifled and a final test 
made to see if any further straightening is necessary.” 

‘‘Barrels that can pass through such a test should 
be pretty straight,” remarked Happy. 

“ They are straight,” remarked the salesman ; “ but 
even this does not satisfy the manufacturers; for the 
barrels are finally tested by gages that detect varia- 
tions as small as the thousandth part of an inch.” 

52 


The Land of Drought 

The conversation turning to the difference between 
smooth and rough bores led to the following explana- 
tion being given by the salesman : 

In order to make a pointed rifle ball strike the ob- 
ject at which it is aimed with its point on, it is neces- 
sary that it should spin or rotate while passing through 
the air. To do this the barrel is rifled, or grooved 
spirally. 

‘‘ It is by no means an easy matter,” he continued, 

to determine the proper amount of rifling that should 
be given to the gun-barrel. You see, what is desired 
is to give the ball such a twist as to make it spin while 
passing through the air, so as to keep it point on until 
the object is struck. If the spin is too slow, the bullet 
may pass through the air in a lengthwise position in- 
stead of point on, so as to prevent accuracy in ainx If 
the twist is too great, so that the bullet spins too rapidly 
in its flight, it will be unsteady. It will wobble like a 
top when it leaves the barrel.” 

“ It must be hard to know how to get the proper 
spin of the ball,” exclaimed Rob. 

‘‘ It is difflcult,” was the reply ; but, after all, it is 
only a matter of calculation. It is only while the ball 
is passing through the gun-barrel that a spin is given 
to it. If one knows the speed with which the ball 
passes through the barrel, or, what is practically the 
same thing, the speed it has when leaving the barrel, 
it is easy to calculate what the rifling of the barrel 
should be. Of course,” he added, ‘‘ since the initial 
velocity is greater when cartridges with smokeless 
53 


The Land of Drought 

powder are used, than where the charge consists of 
ordinary gunpowder, an allowance has to be made for 
the difference of velocity.” 

I suppose,” said Rob, “ that the manner in which 
the speed with which a rifle bullet leaving a muzzle 
of a gun is determined is too difficult for boys to un- 
derstand. I cannot imagine how it is possible to meas- 
ure the speed of an object that moves too rapidly to be 
seen.” 

'' I think I can make it clear to you,” said the sales- 
man. It is really not so difficult as might be sup- 
posed. As you say, the speed of a bullet is very high, 
but the speed of electricity is higher. It is only neces- 
sary to place an electro-magnet in the circuit of a wire, 
that is cut by the bullet as it leaves the muzzle of the 
gun, and another electro-magnet in the circuit of 
another wire that is broken by the bullet as it strikes 
the target. These electro-magnets make markings on 
a cylinder driven by clockwork, so that the exact time, 
to a small fraction of a second, is marked on a rotating 
cylinder. In this way, the time the ball takes in pass- 
ing between the gun-barrel and the target is known ac- 
curately. Then the amount of the spin is a simple mat- 
ter of calculation.” 

During these explanations they had selected a Win- 
chester repeating rifle for each of the boys. Although 
each rifle was furnished with a twenty-six inch bar- 
rel, containing eight cartridges in a full magazine, be- 
sides the one in the chamber, thus giving a total of nine 
shots, it only weighed seven and three-quarter pounds. 
54 


The Land of Drought 

The boys were pleased to note that it was intended for 
smokeless cartridges, and was marked “ Winchester 
Model.” Besides this, one of the best Smith & Wes- 
son revolvers was also purchased for each of the lads. 
This make of revolver was adopted sometime ago for 
use in the Austrian and Russian armies. It differs 
from the Colt’s revolver in its mechanism for rapid 
reloading. 

It may be said here that on subsequently showing 
their firearms to Mr. Christian, they found that he 
was not only a good shot, but that he was well up on 
the subject of guns. 

Mr. Christian gave them some additional informa- 
tion concerning rifles. Among other things, he ex- 
plained the use of sights. These perplexed the boys no 
little. To Rob and Norman they were seen almost for 
the first time, and while Happy had often used them, he 
did not understand how, by their use, he could be more 
sure of striking a distant object. 

‘‘ There are many kind of sights,” said Mr. Chris- 
tian. “ The simplest are those known as the open-rear 
sight and the front sight. The open-rear sight is fixed 
to the barrel near the breech end, while the open-front 
sight is placed in a slot near the muzzle. 

‘‘ Although the matter is a difficult one,” continued 
Mr. Christian, I think I can make the use of sights 
plain to you. 

“ No matter how great may be the speed with which 
the ball leaves the muzzle of a gun, it begins to fall to- 
ward the earth the moment it leaves the muzzle. If, 
55 


The Land of Drought 

therefore, it should be aimed straight at a distant ob- 
ject, it would strike at some point below it, and this 
distance would be greater the farther the object 
might be. It is necessary, therefore, to aim a certain 
distance above the object so that the amount of fall due 
to the pull of the earth, or gravity, shall just make up 
for this elevation. This can be done by the use of 
sights. 

There is another allowance to be made in order to 
determine how much above the top of the object the 
aim should be taken. As the bullet moves forward the 
resistance of the air causes its horizontal speed con- 
stantly to decrease, while the distance with which it 
moves downward under the action of gravity con- 
stantly increases.” 

Mr. Christian also explained to the boys the different 
forms of sights employed, as well as the necessity for 
setting the front sight for different distances. 


56 


CHAPTER VI 


Markings on Rocks 

! 

During the examination of the weapons the instructor 
observed that Happy handled them in a manner that 
showed his familiarity with them. As soon, there- 
fore, as they had been selected, he said : 

“ I see, my lad, you are accustomed to handling 
these things. Where did you learn to shoot ? ” 

‘‘ On a ranch in Texas,” was the reply. “ But it 
has been some time since I have had a gun in my hands. 
I don’t know if I could shoot now. But these guns are 
far better than anything I have ever seen before.” 

“ Can you shoot straight? ” inquired the man. 

I could at one time,” was the reply, “ but I may 
have forgotten now.” 

‘‘ I’ll back you to shoot straight now,” replied the 
man, if you could shoot straight some time ago. At 
least, that is, if you still have a steady hand and a 
good eye.” He then added : But if you intend prac- 
tising at my gallery, it will not take long to see if you 
can still shoot or not.” 

I hope I have not forgotten,” said Happy. 

Come to my gallery in an hour from now,” said the 
instructor to the boys ; I will then have the guns 
unpacked and loaded, ready for a lesson this morning.” 

At the appointed time the boys received their first 

57 


The Land of Drought 

lesson with the guns. They found that Rob was a 
fairly good shot with both rifle and revolver, and was 
able at times to come near the bull’s eye at one hun- 
dred feet. But Happy was a great surprise, not only 
to the boys and the professor, but especially to the 
shooting-master. It was evident, after he had emptied 
the first revolver, that he could both shoot straight and 
shoot faster than is usually done. 

The shooting-master was quite enthusiastic. 

‘‘ My lad,” he cried, “ I said that if you knew how 
to shoot a few years ago and still had a steady hand and 
a good eye I’d back you now. I have seen how you 
shoot; you have a steady arm and don’t flinch. Now,” 
he said, handing him another revolver, aim at the 
bull’s-eye of that target, and let me see how rapidly 
you can empty your revolver.” 

They were standing at a distance of about forty 
yards from the target. 

Happy took the revolver and, without seeming to aim 
carefully at the mark, discharged the chambers, one 
after another, so rapidly that they were greatly sur- 
prised. 

“ Why didn’t you aim at the target. Happy? ” cried 
Norman ; for Happy had shot so rapidly that it did not 
seem to Norman that he had taken any aim whatever. 

Do you think any of the balls struck the target ? ” 
Suppose we go and see,” said the instructor with a 
smile. 

As they approached the target, to the great sur- 
prise of his friends, though apparently not so much of 

58 


The Land of Drought 

the instructor, they found that Happy had lodged all 
the balls at equal distances apart on the edge of the 
bulhs-eye. 

“ I did that to prove,’’ said Happy, that all the balls 
struck the target.” 

You’re a wonderful shot, my lad,” said the in- 
structor. “ You are so quick on the trigger that I 
imagine that you could strike an object thrown up 
into the air.” 

‘‘ I used to be able to do that,” was the reply. 

‘‘ Who taught you to shoot ? ” inquired the man. 

‘‘ The cowboys on the ranch. There were some 
great shots on that ranch.” 

As in most shooting-galleries, there were targets con- 
sisting of balls supported on vertical columns of water. 
These balls had very uncertain movements as they were 
alternately shot into the air, and fell toward the nozzle, 
only again to be thrown upward. It required a steady 
arm and a quick eye, as well as some little judgment, 
to make allowance for the change of their position, 
from time to time, in order to strike them. At first. 
Happy only struck the balls now and then ; but after a 
few trials, when he had learned to make the necessary 
allowances, he was able to hit them every time, and 
this even when toward the end several balls were 
thrown into the jet at the same time. 

“ You are certainly a gun-wonder. Happy,” said 
Rob enthusiastically. ‘‘ I hope you will give me les- 
sons when we get out on the desert.” 

'' I can teach this lad but little,” said the instructor 

59 


The Land of Drought 

to the professor; at least, with the revolver.” And 
then, as if wishing to know what else Happy could 
do in the way of quick shooting, he turned to him and 
inquired : ‘‘ Did they teach you any tricks in quick 
shooting on the ranch? ” 

“ They did,” replied Happy, as he slipped a loaded 
revolver in his belt at his hip. Ask the man at the 
targets to throw a potato up into the air. I’m not sure 
I can do it here, for the ceiling is not very high, but 
ni try.” 

As the potato was thrown up into the air, Happy 
rapidly drew the revolver from his hip and fired it 
twice at the falling object, cutting it in pieces by the 
balls before it touched the floor. 

“ Bravo ! ” cried the instructor. I have heard of 
that trick being common among cowboys and have seen 
it done, but never so well as now.” 

You see, sir,” said Happy smiling, out in Texas, 
where almost every one has a gun, and sometimes gets 
a fighting fit on, it is the man who can draw first and 
shoot the quickest who is best able to take care of 
himself. While I never expected to have to do this for 
my protection, yet the folks at home told me I had 
better learn all the cowboys could show me.” 

“ Your folks were right, my lad,” was the reply. 

You never know what may happen. You may be 
able to make good use of your ability to shoot straight 
and quickly, especially, as I understand, you are going 
with a party of gentlemen across the Colorado Desert.” 

Although the instructor had reason to be pleased 
6o 


The Land of Drought 

with both Rob and Happy as pupils, there was certainly 
enough to complain about when he took Norman in 
charge. Norman’s sight was poor, and his arm was 
far from steady. Then too, he was somewhat nervous, 
fearing the revolver would kick. When about to shoot 
he would aim, and then, shutting his eyes, would hold 
the pistol for a full minute, the barrel all the time 
wobbling, or shaking, before he finally pulled the 
trigger. 

“ Don’t shut your eyes, my lad,” cried the man. 
‘‘ Look at the target and point the pistol so that the 
sight covers the object you wish to strike. As soon 
as it does this pull the trigger, and the ball will find its 
mark, provided you haven’t flinched.” 

When Norman finally did fire the revolver for the 
first time, instead of striking the target the ball did not 
even hit the wall immediately back of it, but one of the 
side walls. Seeing this, the man who had charge of 
the targets beat a precipitate retreat. As good luck 
would have it, the ball struck the side wall farthest 
from the man. 

Seeing the great discouragement of the lad, the in- 
structor endeavored to smooth the matter over. 

‘‘Don’t get discouraged,” he said; “I have had 
people come to my gallery to learn to shoot whose 
shots were almost as bad as yours. After a few 
weeks’ practice, however, they became excellent shots.” 

“ No, don’t get discouraged,” exclaimed Rob in a 
jollying tone. “ You’re not doing badly. I believe that 
even now you could hit the side of a barn; that is, if 
6i 


The Land of Drought 

is was a large barn and you were only a few feet from 
it.” 

Norman took this jollying good-naturedly. 

“ I never expect to be much of a shot, Rob,” he said, 
but I hope I shall be able to hit the side of a good, big 
barn even as far off as fifty feet.” 

The instructor now showed the boys how to load 
the magazine rifles, and gave them some instruction in 
the general care of these guns. 

As he was about leaving them, after making arrange- 
ments with the instructor to give them lessons every 
day, the professor said to the boys: 

“ I shall be unable to meet you this afternoon as I 
expected. There are so many things I must attend to 
before leaving the city for so long a time, that I shall 
be busy all the afternoon. Come Monday afternoon 
prepared to tell me what you have been able to learn 
about the markings on rocks.” 

They had been so interested in the purchase of their 
weapons and the first practice in the shooting-gallery, 
that it was almost dinner-time when they were ready 
to leave. The professor, therefore, turning to the boys, 
said : 

“ It is a beautiful October day. I would advise you, 
after dinner, to read up on rock markings at your 
homes, and then take a walk in the park and see if you 
cannot find for yourselves, from actual observations, 
how markings might be made on rocks. I don’t wish 
you to spend too much time indoors reading. You must 
keep in good physical condition if you are to accom- 
62 


The Land of Drought 

pany Mr. Christian and myself on the journey over 
the desert.'’ 

Several hours afterward they took a brisk walk 
through Fairmount Park, along the eastern bank of the 
Schuylkill. Naturally, their conversation turned on 
the times they expected to have on the desert with their 
guns and horses. They especially talked about what 
they had been reading. When they had gone some dis- 
tance beyond the Girard Avenue Bridge, they saw 
several places where the river had deposited banks of 
mud and sand flats near and along the shores. 

“There are fragmental rocks, Rob,” cried Happy; 
“ for I suppose a sand flat, or mud bank, is a frag- 
mental rock.” 

“ They are fragmental rocks, all right, Happy,” re- 
plied Rob ; “ and, at the same time, they are aqueous, 
stratified, and sedimentary rocks.” 

As they stood looking at the deposits of mud and 
sand, a naptha launch passed up the river near them. 
The waves made by its screw propeller, washing against 
the bank, piled up little ridges of mud and sand. 

“ There you are, Rob,” cried Norman excitedly. 
“ There are some of the markings on the rocks the 
professor wished us to get information about. We 
might call them wave markings, might we not?” he 
inquired. 

“ Correct, my lad,” said Rob in a jollying tone. 
“ And see there,” he said, pointing to a place where a 
mud bank that had been covered by water during a 
recent flood and, afterward drying by exposure to the 

63 


The Land of Drought 

sun, had its surface covered with cracks crossing it in 
every direction, are still other markings.” 

‘‘ What would you call those? ” inquired Norman. 

“ Mud cracks,” was the reply. 

While they were examining the mud cracks a boy 
came to where they were standing. He had a pet 
dog with him, and was amusing himself throwing a 
stick into the water. The dog appeared to enjoy the 
sport greatly. He would dash into the water and, 
swimming out to where the stick was floating, seize it 
in his mouth and, returning, lay it down at his young 
master’s feet. Then, by the wagging of his tail and 
barking, plainly beg him to throw it in again. On one 
of these occasions, as the dog came out of the water, 
he stepped on the mud bank and left well-defined mark- 
ings of his feet in the soft material. 

“ There’s another rock marking, Norman,” cried 
Happy. “ I imagine that by carefully studying such 
footprints one could not only tell the kind of animal 
that m’ade them, but could even form some idea of the 
direction in which such animal had been going.” 

There is no doubt of that. Happy,” said Rob. 
“ But, boys,” he added, pointing to another bit of 
mud formation at some little distance on their right, 
“ here may be a still better example. Keep still ; I think 
we will have a chance for studying other markings 
on rocks.” 

Looking in the direction in which Rob had been 
pointing, the boys saw that a small bird had alighted 
by the side of the river and was quenching its thirst. 

64 


The Land of Drought 

When satisfied, it flew away. Going to the place the 
boys could distinctly see the impressions that its feet 
had made in the yielding surface. 

There is no trouble in seeing the difference be- 
tween the footprints of the dog and the bird, Nor- 
man,’^ said Rob. If a fellow was up on such things, 
he should be able to determine very fairly the kind of 
bird, and have some idea even of its weight and its 
size.” 

“ I don’t see how the size comes in,” said Norman. 

“ You don’t! ” exclaimed Rob. “ Could not one tell 
by the distance between successive steps the stride of 
the animal, and thus form some idea of its height ? ” 

“ That’s so,” replied Norman. 

The boys were silent for a while, busily thinking. 
Soon, however, the silence was broken by Norman, 
who said to Rob : 

‘‘ How are the markings preserved in the hardened 
rocks that might afterward be formed as the frag- 
ments of sand or mud are bound together ? ” 

‘‘ I can tell you,” said Happy. ‘‘ I was reading about 
it this afternoon. It is a simple thing when one un- 
derstands it. I suppose that most markings of this 
kind are soon swept away by the next waves that wash 
over the soft stuff. Sometimes, however, a deposit of 
very fine mud collects in the markings. In such cases 
when the rock hardens the traces of these markings 
would thus be preserved.” 

It is possible that some of my older readers may. ob- 
ject that the incidents of the various markings, above 
E 65 


The Land of Drought 

pointed out, though possible, were extremely improb- 
able. I think, however, if they will only stop and 
think for a moment they will see that all the incidents 
referred to are very probable. Such things are con- 
stantly taking place. The only difficulty is, that in 
most cases there is no one to observe them. But here 
were three bright boys who had just been thinking 
about such things, and were on the outlook. They 
promptly saw them, and thus obtained knowledge of 
natural phenomena that would naturally be more nearly 
indelibly impressed on their minds than by hours of 
careful explanation, or, perhaps, even days of reading. 

But the markings above referred to were by no 
means the only ones our lads saw during that short 
walk. Farther up the river they came to a place where 
a young amateur fisherman, after many hours of pa- 
tient toil, had succeeded in catching a poor little sunfish. 
It had been carefully cherished at first to keep company 
for the many others the young fisherman saw in his 
imagination as his catch for the day. But the others 
did not materialize, and the poor little fish had been 
thrown away and left unburied on the mud bank. 

Happy was the first to observe it. 

‘‘ How is that for another marking? ” he exclaimed. 
“ If that fish was preserved in the rocks, afterward 
formed by the hardening of the mud, what a splendid 
marking it would make.” 

“ What kind of a rock would the mud make if 
hardened, Rob?” inquired Norman. 

‘‘ It would be called a shale,” was the reply ; ‘‘ and if 

66 


The Land of Drought 

the animal was preserved, it would form what is known 
as a fossil. The shale thus formed would not only be 
a fragmental, aqueous, stratified, and sedimentary rock, 
but would also be a fossiliferous rock.” 

There was still another kind of marking for the boys 
to observe. The leaves on the maples and other trees, 
near the banks of the river, had taken on the gorgeous 
tints of autumn. The winds had scattered the leaves, 
and Norman was collecting some of them to take home 
to his mother. A beautifully marked red and yellow 
leaf had fallen on the partially dried surface of a mud 
bank. As Norman picked it up from where it had 
been lying they could see a distinct impression made 
on the bank. 

“ There,” replied Rob, is another marking on the 
rock.” 


67 


CHAPTER VII 


Rob's Dream 

“ Do you believe in dreams? ” inquired Rob the next 
morning of his two chums, who had called on him 
several hours before church-time. 

Why do you ask, Rob ? ” inquired Happy. ‘‘ Have 
you had a dream. If so, let us hear about it.” 

“ Yes,” added Norman, tell us about it, Rob, un- 
less you would rather not.” 

“ I want to talk about it,” said Rob. ‘‘ My dream 
is still worrying me no little. It was about grandfather 
and father, so I don’t care to say anything about it to 
the family, but I would like to talk it over with you.” 

Was there anything awful about it, Rob,” in- 
quired Happy, “ that makes you unwilling to mention 
it to your people? ” 

ril tell you the dream, boys, and you can judge 
for yourselves,” said Rob. “ I dreamed that we had 
left with Mr. Christian and the professor for the South- 
west. After safely reaching Yuma, we had traveled 
across the desert, for I don’t know exactly how many 
days, but I got the impression that it was for about 
two or three weeks. 

During all this time we heard practically nothing 
of the Indians or their prisoners. This worried me. 
It seemed as if there was no truth in the rumors that 
68 


The Land of Drought 

had started us off on the journey. One night, after I 
had fallen into a troubled sleep, I dreamed that I had 
determined to go alone in the search for my grand- 
father and father.’’ 

'' It was very odd, Rob,” exclaimed Happy, “ that 
you dreamed that you dreamed, don’t you think so? ” 

'' I know it was queer. Happy,” was the reply, “ but 
it’s just what I did.” 

‘‘ Go on, Rob, please,” said Norman. 

“ I dreamed I got up,” said Rob, “ so quietly that no 
one heard me, and mounting my horse left camp, riding 
rapidly across the desert toward the northwest. You 
know how things go in dreams. It seemed to me I 
traveled far more rapidly than I had ever done before.” 

‘‘ Could you see things clearly before you ? ” in- 
quired Norman. 

“ Yes, even more distinctly than when awake,” was 
the reply. “ After having gone on for many hours, I 
seemed to see a place in the desert that, instead of be- 
ing dry and barren, was covered with a beautiful vege- 
tation. It was an oasis, where sufficient water issued 
from the ground to give to the place the only thing it 
needed for a vegetable growth. It was not on the 
general level of the rest of the ground, but on the top 
of a high hill, with a flat top that was some nine hun- 
dred feet or more above the general surface.” 

That is what is called a mesa,” said Happy to 
himself. 

“ I rode rapidly toward the oasis,” continued Rob, 
puzzled how water could exist at the top of this hill. 

69 


The Land of Drought 

It seemed to me that any force sufficient to cause water 
to escape at that point should also cause its appearance 
somewhere in the low surrounding land. At last 1 
reached the oasis,” continued Rob, and determined 
to climb to its top and examine it carefully. But I 
found it impossible to do this, for the sides of the hill 
were almost vertical walls of rock. I tried to find a 
place where the precipice might be scaled, but failed. 

“ You may imagine,” he continued, “ how very de- 
sirous I was of doing this, since I could distinctly see 
at the summit two men I recognized as grandfather 
and father. They appeared to know me, and were 
beckoning eagerly. At last, in the still air of the desert, 
I imagined I heard them shouting : 

“ ‘ Come quickly, Robert, or you will be too late.’ 
For more than an hour I rode frantically around 
the vertical walls in a fruitless effort to reach the 
summit. At last I saw an arroya, or deep gulley, in 
the side of the precipice, down which a good-sized 
stream of water was flowing. Dismounting, I noted 
the curious fact that this stream sunk into an opening 
into the ground and entirely disappeared. I felt sure 
I could reach the top of the mesa by climbing that 
arroya, but had no opportunity of doing so, since at 
this moment the sun rose, my dream was over, and I 
awakened to find I had fallen off my blanket and was 
making frantic efforts to get on it again.” 

What a strange dream, Rob ! ” exclaimed Norman. 

Don’t you think so. Happy? ” 

I don’t know,” said Happy. “ I don’t think it 
70 


The Land of Drought 

surprising Rob dreamed about his people. I imagine 
he has been continually thinking about them lately. 
When he fell asleep it was only natural that he dreamed 
about them.” 

“ Why didn’t you try to go asleep again, Rob ? ” in- 
quired Norman. “ Then you might have gone on 
dreaming where you left off, and so found your way to 
the top of the mesa.” 

“ That’s just what I tried to do,” replied Rob smi- 
ling. 

“ I’ve often tried that, Rob,” said Norman laughing, 
but have never been successful. The harder I tried 
to fall asleep and dream the wider awake I became. 
Was it that way with you? ” 

‘‘ I’m sorry to say it was,” replied Rob. 

You do not for a moment believe that your dream 
was prophetic, do you?” inquired Norman. “That 
is, was sent for the purpose of giving you information 
that would help you in your search. If you don’t, 
I can’t see why the dream should worry you. You do 
not think that it means we will be unsuccessful, do 
you?” 

Rob said nothing. His chums saw that he was wor- 
ried. Seeing this. Happy, as if to encourage him, 
remarked : 

“ I don’t understand why your dream should worry 
you, Rob. It seems to me it was encouraging. You 
saw both your grandfather and father alive. Now, I 
should call that good luck.” 

“ The trouble is. Happy,” replied Rob good-na- 

71 


The Land of Drought 

turedly, you see good luck in everything,” and then, 
as if remembering that he had not yet answered Nor- 
man’s question, he continued : “ I don’t know how to 
answer your question, Norman. I don’t believe I’m 
superstitious ; and yet, to be frank, I confess this dream 
has more powerfully affected me than I am willing to 
admit. I frequently dream, but never before has a 
dream seemed to me to be so real. The picture of that 
mesa, as it stood with its beautiful vegetation high 
above the level of the plain, and the slender stream of 
water trickling down the arroya, and disappearing in 
the ground, has been so firmly fixed on my mind that 
I feel sure I could recognize them again if they have 
any real existence and should come within my sight. 
I can even remember that where the water disappeared 
in the ground there was apparently a great cave, or 
hollow space ; for I thought I could hear the splash of 
water as it fell on the ground below. I remember too, 
the general color of the rocks lying on each side of the 
arroya, and what seemed so strange to me was that I 
dreamed I saw palm trees growing in the desert on each 
side of the stream.” 

'' It’s a pity, Rob,” said Happy laughing, “ that you 
should have awakened before getting to the top.” 

“ It is something I shall never cease regretting,” said 
Rob earnestly. 

Rob was clearly feeling so badly about his dream 
that neither of his friends said anything for some 
time. At last, however. Happy broke the silence : 

'' I know people are generally unwilling to believe 
72 


The Land of Drought 

warnings are sent to them in the way of dreams,” he 
said ; “ but, as you know, many wonderful dreams are 
related in the Bible that appear to have been un- 
doubtedly sent by God in order to let people know 
what he was going to do.” 

‘‘ That’s true. Happy,” said Rob. That was the 
case with the two dreams of Pharaoh.” 

“ Tell us about those dreams, Rob,” said Norman. 

Rob, picking up his Bible, read the following from 
the forty-first chapter of Genesis, i-8: 

‘‘ ‘ And it came to pass . . . that Pharaoh dreamed : 
and, behold, he stood by the river. And, behold, there 
came up out of the river seven well-favoured kine and 
fat-fleshed; and they fed in a meadow. And, behold, 
seven other kine came up after them out of the river, 
ill-favoured and lean-fleshed, and stood by the other 
kine upon the brink of the river. And the ill-favoured 
and lean-fleshed kine did eat up the seven well-favoured 
and fat kine. So Pharaoh awoke. 

‘‘ ‘ And he slept and dreamed the second time: and, 
behold, seven ears of corn came up upon one stalk, 
rank and good. And, behold, seven thin ears and 
blasted with the east wind sprung up after them. And 
the seven thin ears devoured the seven rank and full 
ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and, behold, it was a 
dream. And it came to pass in the morning that his 
spirit was troubled; and he sent and called for all 
the magicians of Egypt, and all the wise men thereof : 
and Pharaoh told them his dreams ; but there was none 
that could interpret them unto Pharaoh.’ ” 

73 


The Land of Drought 

‘‘ If Happy and I are the soothsayers, Rob,” said 
Norman, “ then you are Pharaoh. You have dreamed 
a dream and it has worried you, and you have sent for 
us and told us what the dream was about.” 

And like the soothsayers and astrologers,” said 
Happy smiling, we have been able to tell Pharaoh 
nothing about his dream. But the real Pharaoh went 
to sleep again and dreamed another dream, and this 
Rob could not do.” 

“ But,” said Norman, Pharaoh sent for a man 
named Joseph, an Israelite, who was then in prison, 
and told his dream to Joseph, and was told exactly 
what it meant.” 

'' It is not so much a Joseph that Rob should send 
for, Norman,” objected Happy; “it is, rather, a 
Daniel.” 

“ How do you make that out? ” inquired Rob, inter- 
ested in the turn the conversation had taken. 

“ Because,” was the reply, “ what you want to know 
is the interpretation of the part of the dream that never 
came to you, but you believe would have come had 
you remained asleep long enough. You want to send 
for a Daniel. Do you remember the dream Nebu- 
chadnezzar, king of Babylon, dreamed ? ” 

“ No, let’s hear about it.” 

Happy then read the following from the second 
chapter of Daniel, 1-4: 

And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchad- 
nezzar, Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, wherewith 
his spirit was troubled, and his sleep brake from him. 
74 


The Land of Drought 

Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and 
the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, 
for to show the king his dreams. So they came and 
stood before the king. 

“ ‘ And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a 
dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream. 
Then spake the Chaldeans to the king in Syriac, O 
king, live for ever : tell thy servants the dream, and we 
will show the interpretation. The king answered and 
said to the Chaldeans, The thing is gone from me: if 
ye will not make known unto me the dream, with the 
interpretation thereof, ye shall be cut in pieces and 
your houses shall be made a dunghill : But if ye show 
the dream and the interpretation thereof, ye shall re- 
ceive of me gifts and rewards and great honour : there- 
fore show me the dream, and the interpretation there- 
of. They answered again and said. Let the king tell 
his servants the dream, and we will show the interpre- 
tation of it. The king answered and said, I know of 
certainty that ye would gain the time, because ye see 
the thing is gone from me. But if ye will not make 
known unto me the dream, there is but one decree for 
you; for ye have prepared lying and corrupt words to 
speak before me, till the time be changed: therefore 
tell me the dream, and I shall know that ye can show 
me the interpretation thereof.’ ” 

“ Well, that was fierce,” exclaimed Rob. ‘‘ What 
did Nebuchadnezzar do?” 

“ He commanded Arioch, the captain of his guard, 
to chop all the wise men of Babylon into pieces; but 
75 


The Land of Drought 

when Daniel, one of the Jewish captives who had been 
taken to Babylon, heard of it, he told Arioch he needn’t 
kill the astrologers, that he, Daniel, could not only give 
the king the interpretation of the dream, but could tell 
him what the dream was about, and this he did. More- 
over, what Daniel said the dream meant came true. 
If you wish to read it, you will find the rest in the 
second chapter of Daniel.” 

As was natural, the boys began to talk about the 
markings on the rocks they had seen while on their 
walk in Fairmount Park on Saturday • afternoon. 

Do you know, boys,” said Rob, “ those markings 
remind me of another king of Babylon, named Bel- 
shazzar. Belshazzar had made a great feast to a 
thousand of his lords, and had ordered that the silver 
vessels his father, Nebuchadnezzar, had taken out of 
the temple at Jerusalem be brought out. He, his 
princes, his wives, and others drank out of them and 
praised their gods of gold and silver and brass. But 
let me read you what happened. You will find it in the 
fifth chapter of Daniel.” 

He then read as follows : 

‘ In the same hour came forth fingers of a man’s 
hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the 
plaster of the wall of the king’s palace : and the king 
saw the part of the hand that wrote. Then the king’s 
countenance was changed, and his thoughts troubled 
him, so that the joints of his loins were loosed, and 
his knees smote one against the other. The king 
76 


The Land of Drought 

cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, 
and the soothsayers. And the king spake, and said to 
the wise men of Babylon, Whosoever shall read this 
writing, and show me the interpretation thereof, shall 
be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about 
his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom. 

“ ‘ Then came in all the king’s wise men : but they 
could not read the writing, nor make known to the 
king the interpretation thereof. Then was King Bel- 
shazzar greatly troubled, and his countenance was 
changed in him, and his lords were astonied.’ ” 

“ Belshazzar was frightened, all right, wasn’t he?” 
exclaimed Norman. 

“ He was, for a fact,” exclaimed Rob. “ It was 
enough to frighten any one. Think of a hand suddenly 
appearing in the air and writing something on the 
wall that Belshazzar believed was a message, telling 
of the punishment he was to receive for the sacrilegious 
act he had just committed.” 

‘'What did he do. Happy?” inquired Norman. 
“ Did he find anybody who was able to read the hand- 
writing on the wall ? ” 

“ Yes,” said Happy; “ he sent for the same Daniel. 
When Daniel came before the king he read the writing 
and correctly interpreted it. I will read you an ac- 
count of it ” : 

“ ‘ And this is the writing that was written, MENE, 
MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN. This is the interpre- 
tation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy 
kingdom, and finished it. TEKEL; Thou art weighed 
77 


The Land of Drought 

in the balances, and art found wanting. PERES ; Thy 
kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Per- 
sians. Then commanded Belshazzar, and they clothed 
Daniel with scarlet, and put a chain of gold about his 
neck, and made a proclamation concerning him, that he 
should be the third ruler in the kingdom. In that night 
was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain. And 
Darius the Median took the kingdom, being about 
threescore and two years old.’ ” 

After Sunday-school that afternoon they took a 
short walk in the park. They had only gone a few 
squares from Rob’s house when Happy, pointing to 
some arrowmarks on some pavements, said: 

“ That’s something like the handwriting on the wall, 
Rob.” 

“ Except that here,’’ was the reply, ‘‘ we are all 
Daniels, for we all know what those marks mean; the 
arrows are made to point in the direction the fellow has 
gone that the other fellows are trying to catch. 

I was reading in one of the books on geology, that 
the markings on the rocks are like the printed words 
in a book; that the different layers of rock are like 
the separate leaves of a great book on which, if one 
has only learned how to do so, he can read all about 
the past history of the earth.” 

‘‘ I have heard people say,” said Happy, “ that the 
conclusions geologists come to about the past history 
of the earth in this way are not to be relied on.” 

‘‘ Those people are way off. Happy,” exclaimed Rob. 

78 


The Land of Drought 

“ The next time you are at my house remind me, and 
I will show you a book written by Hugh Miller, the 
celebrated Scotch geologist, called the ‘ Footprints of 
the Creator.’ In this book Miller describes in a very 
interesting manner how the Creator has practically 
written on the rocks of the earth its past history. As 
he says, such writings cannot be at fault. One may 
fail to read them right, but that is the fault of the in- 
terpreter, and not of the writer.” 


79 


CHAPTER VIII 


Geological Mummies 

‘‘ Have you ever seen an Egyptian mummy, Happy ? ” 
inquired Rob on Monday morning, when the boys had 
met in Rob’s study. 

“ Yes, there are several in Memorial Hall, Fair- 
mount Park,” was the reply. '' Those Egyptians knew 
how to keep the bodies of their dead from decay. I 
understand they not only put different kinds of chemi- 
cals into the bodies, but afterward wrapped them up 
tightly in long rolls of cotton cloth soaked in bitumen 
and other things. It must have been good work, for 
now, after many thousands of years, from the times 
they were placed in their curious cases, their remains 
are still fairly preserved. But what made you talk 
about mummies ? ” 

“ I was thinking about fossils,” replied Rob. 
“ Though Egyptian mummies are wonderful, yet they 
are not as wonderful as fossil animals and plants. One 
can understand how the bodies of the old Egyptians 
kept so well ; their people carefully prepared them. But 
there was no one to look after the dead bodies of the 
animals and plants that became fossils. They remain 
at, or near, where they died, and were found there 
many millions of years afterward. It seems to me, 
therefore, that fossils are far more wonderful than 
8o 


The Land of Drought 

Egyptian mummies.’' (See “Egyptian Mummies.” 
Appendix A.) 

“ I wonder what keeps the dead animals and plants 
from decaying?” inquired Norman. “There was no 
one to put embalming fluid into their bodies, or to 
wrap them up in cotton cloths, was there, Rob ? ” 

“ I cannot say about the embalming fluid,” replied 
Rob ; “ but they were wrapped up in layers of sand, 
clay, or mud, that kept the air from them. I guess it is 
for this reason that plants, or animals, that lived in or 
on the ocean, or other bodies of water, are more fre- 
quently found in a fossil condition than those that 
lived elsewhere. They have a better chance of being 
buried in and thus covered by beds of sand and mud.” 

When the boys met him that afternoon. Professor 
Engleman had good reason for being pleased with the 
information they had obtained as to the different kinds 
of markings on rocks, both by actual observations on 
the banks of the Schuylkill and by reading. But he 
seemed to be especially pleased with the facts they had 
obtained from observation. 

“ In the study of the natural sciences, whenever it is 
possible to get facts from something actually going 
on around you,” he said, “ do so in preference to 
obtaining your facts from the mere study of books. 
I know,” he added, “ it generally happens that you 
can only get the facts from books. But whenever you 
can get them from direct observation, don’t fail to 
secure the advantage.” 


F 


8i 


The Land of Drought 

After rapidly reviewing what they had seen on the 
sand flats and mud banks of the Schuylkill, and after 
having questioned them concerning the information 
they had obtained by reading, the professor said : 

“ I do not believe I can do better just now than to 
show you how much information can be obtained from 
the markings on some of my geological specimens.” 

Going to the cabinet, he took from one of the 
drawers a specimen that he placed on the table before 
them, saying: 

‘‘ I wish you to examine carefully the markings on 
this piece of rock and tell me how you think they 
were made.” 

The specimen was a piece of a shady sandstone, a 
rock consisting of hardened sand and mud. One of 
the surfaces was marked by irregular pittings. The pit- 
tings did not possess true spherical outlines or borders, 
but were a little longer in one direction than in 
another, as can be seen from the drawing. 

Rob was the first to speak. 

“ The markings,” he said, “ look as if they had been 
made by small particles that have fallen on the surface 
of the rock while it was still soft.” 

‘‘Have you any idea what those particles were?” 
inquired the professor. 

“ I would say raindrops,” replied Rob, “ did it not 
seem so improbable that there would be such a thing as 
the fossilized markings of raindrops.” 

“ But they are raindrop markings, nevertheless,” re- 
plied the professor. “ These markings, made on the 
82 


The Land of Drought 


surface of a soft mud bank, were afterward filled 
with sand, so that as the rock hardened they were per- 
fectly preserved. Is there any other information,” the 
professor continued, “ you can obtain from an obser- 
vation of these markings? ” 

‘‘ It seems to me,” said Happy, “ that one could tell 
from them in what direction the wind was blowing 
on that day, probably millions of years ago, when the 
rain fell that made them.” 

When he heard this, Norman shouted : 

“ Oh, come. Happy ! It’s enough to be asked to 
believe that there can be such things as fossil rain- 
drops ; but when you 
come to fossil winds, I 
think you are drawing 
the longbow too much. 

What do you think, 

Rob ? ” inquired N o r - 
man. 

“ I believe Happy is 
right,” was the reply. ‘‘ I 
suppose he thinks he can show how the winds left an 
impression on the rocks. Of course, if he can do this, 
then we could have what are the same as fossilized 
winds or wind markings. Tell us. Happy, what it 
is you think enables you to do this.” 

“The raindrops did not fall directly downward, 
but had a slant,” he replied. “ In other words, the out- 
lines of the markings are farther across in some direc- 
tions than in others. The only way I can see in which 

83 



Impression of Rain Drops 


The Land of Drought 

the raindrops obtained this slant was because they 
were blown in this direction by the wind.” 

“ Capital,” exclaimed the professor, pleased at the 
lad’s power of observation. ‘‘ You have done so well 
that I am sure you will not stop here; since, of course, 
as you can see, if one knew the position the rock had in 
the bed from which it was taken, it would be possible 
to determine the direction in which the wind was 
blowing on the day of that rainstorm, so many years 
ago.” 

This reasoning greatly pleased Norman. 

“ It’s simple enough,” he said, “ when you once see 
it.” 

“ Here is another specimen,” said the professor, 
placing on the table a piece of shale that had irregular 
streaks of a harder white rock, 
extending irregularly across its 
surface. 

The surface of the specimen 
had evidently been subjected to 
unequal wear. The edges of the 
harder rock, apparently quartz, 
were rounded, and the softer 
shale had been worn off, so that 
the quartz projected nearly a 
quarter of an inch above it. Its 
Mud Cracks and Quartz general appearance is shown in 
the specimen we have here. 

The boys examined the specimen for several minutes 
without saying anything, when Norman exclaimed : 

84 



The Land of Drought 

‘‘ There’s one thing funny about that specimen. The 
white streaks are shaped like the mud cracks we saw 
the other day in the park.” 

That’s so, Norman,” said Rob; “ but the cracks are 
formed of quartz. I don’t see how the quartz took 
such shape, or how the softer rock was deposited 
around them.” 

‘‘ Don’t you think, Rob,” suggested Happy, ‘‘ that 
if you tried you might explain it by supposing the 
shale or mud rock was formed first, and that this speci- 
men was made on a portion of the surface originally 
covered by a mud flat, and that this mud dried and 
cracks were formed on its surface, as is usually the 
case.” 

That’s all right. Happy,” said Rob ; but where 
does the quartz come in ? ” 

‘‘ Afterward, of course,” replied Happy. Instead 
of the cracks being filled with sand, or mud, they were 
filled with quartz deposited from a solution in water. 
Then, you see ” 

“ Thank you. Happy,” said Rob. “ Yes, I see it all. 
Your explanation accounts for everything. As the 
surface of the rock was afterward worn down, the 
softer rock wore more rapidly, leaving the hard filling 
projecting above the surface.” 

The professor did not say anything. He was too 
sensible a man to continue praising Happy, so he again 
led the conversation to some of the things they had 
seen or had been talking about recently. Norman 
said: 


85 


The Land of Drought 

“We were talking about Egyptian mummies, among 
other things.” 

“ What conclusion did you come to about the 
mummies ? ” inquired his uncle. 

“ That it was very wonderful how the Egyptians 
had been able to keep the bodies of their dead from 
decaying for so long a time.” 

“ Did you conclude that Egyptian mummies were 
more wonderful than fossils ? ” 

“Not at all,” was the reply; “we thought fossils 
were much more wonderful. In them the remains of 
animals and plants have been preserved for a much 
longer time, and without any one to prepare them. Is 
this correct. Uncle Joseph? ” 

“ Quite so,” was the reply. “ I have some beauti- 
ful geological mummies in my collection,” he said. 
“ Would you like to see them? ” 

The manner in which the boys shouted “ Yes, sir,” 
made it clear that they would very much like to see 
them. None of them understood what the professor 
meant, so they carefully watched him as he went to 
his geological cabinet and placed before them on the 
table several specimens of clear amber. They could 
see within each piece wonderfully preserved specimens 
of flies, spiders, and other small animals, completely 
surrounded by the amber. 

The boys shouted with laughter when they saw the 
mummies to which the professor had alluded. They 
all agreed, however, that no objection could be made 
to calling them mummies. 

86 


The Land of Drought 

“ For probably many hundreds of thousands of 
years,” said the professor, “ and, most probably, even 
longer, these animals have been preserved because they 
have been shut up in perfectly airtight funeral caskets. 
Their bodies were surrounded by the liquid resin that 
leaked from the trees. When hardened the resin 
formed amber; for, as you probably know, amber is a 
fossil resin produced by trees during different geo- 
logical ages.” 

The professor had many beautiful specimens of fos- 
sils in his collection, and greatly interested the boys as 
he brought them out, one after another, and described 
them. 

As you can see,” he said, fossils differ greatly 
in size. Some are larger than the largest elephants 
now living; others are so small that they cannot even 
be seen without the aid of a powerful microscope.” 

“ Have you any of the very small ones in your cabi- 
net, professor ? ” inquired Rob. 

Taking from one of the drawers a small pasteboard 
box containing a fine grayish powder, without the 
slightest appearance of definite shapes, he opened it, 
saying : 

‘‘ Here is an excellent specimen of very many ex- 
tremely minute fossils.” 

‘‘Does that powder contain fossils, professor?” in- 
quired Rob. 

“ It consists almost entirely of exceedingly minute 
plants,” was the reply. “ How many fossil plants do 
you think that box contains, Norman ? ” 

87 


The Land of Drought 

I don’t know, uncle,” was the reply ; but if I’m 
to make a guess I’ll make it high ; for I think you are 
trying to catch rne. I’ll say, then, about one thousand.” 

Had you said a thousand million you would have 
come nearer the truth,” said his uncle. 

Honest, Uncle Joseph? ” cried the lad. 

I’m in earnest,” was the reply; and taking a small 
microscopic slide from another drawer, he said : “ I’ll 
let you examine a small quantity of this dust under the 
microscope. This slide consists of two glass plates, 
between which a mere pinch of the dust has been 
placed. Now,” he said, I will focus the microscope 
on the material and let you see the very small plants 
whose bodies form this material.” 

“ What do you call that stuff, uncle ? ” exclaimed 
Norman. 

“ It is an infusorial earth I obtained from the neigh- 
borhood of Richmond, Va. The differently shaped 
bodies are microscopic plants called diatoms. They 
consist of nearly pure silica. Like all silica, they are 
hard, and therefore scratch most surfaces against 
which they are rubbed. Since, however, they are very 
small, and there are many of them, these scratches can 
scarcely be seen. Infusorial earth, therefore, is suit- 
able for use as a polishing powder, and is sold in 
large quantities under the name of ‘ Tripoli.’ ” 

** Were you in earnest in saying there were thou- 
sands of millions of the plants in that little box, 
uncle?” 

“ Quite in earnest,” was the reply. That box 

88 


The Land of Drought 

holds about four cubic inches of powder. Now, it has 
been shown that in every cubic inch of this earth there 
are over forty-one thousand millions, so there must be 
one hundred and sixty-four thousand millions in all.” 



The professor now entered into a long explanation 
as to how, by a careful reading of the markings on 
rocks and their fossil contents, it was possible to obtain 
reliable information as to the condition of the earth 
throughout the enormous extent of geological time. 
89 


The Land of Drought 

He explained, moreover, how it was thus possible to 
learn the different conditions the earth passed through 
from the time it had cooled and hardened on the 
outside, so as to form a rocky crust, to the present 
time. He even went further, and explained how, by 
studying the peculiarities of the rocks themselves, 
they could even form some idea of the conditions that 
existed when the earth was a huge mass of glowing 
vapor. 

We will not attempt now to relate all the professor 
told them, since this will be referred to in other parts 
of the book. It will suffice here, to say that he ex- 
plained thoroughly how geological time is divided into 
shorter times called aeons; aeons are divided into sub- 
divisions called eras ; eras into subdivisions called 
periods; and periods into subdivisions called epochs. 


I 


90 


CHAPTER IX 


A Lesson in Geography 

Two weeks pass rapidly when one is busy, as were 
the professor and his party. When they first began to 
count off, one after the other, the fourteen days that 
the professor told them was all they could have for 
getting ready, the boys were delighted. But after half 
the time had passed, the days seemed to rush by at so 
rapid a rate that they began to fear it would be im- 
possible to get everything ready in time. 

They wanted more time, among other things, for 
lessons at the shooting-gallery; at least Rob and Nor- 
man did. Rob had already improved in the use of the 
rifle and revolver, and even Norman had reached a 
point when he very seldom struck one of the side walls 
at the target end of the gallery. 

It was difflcult for the boys to determine just what 
they would take with them. There were certain things 
they were obliged to have, and, as is usual in such cases, 
they found that what they wished to take was far in 
excess of what was possible to carry. 

‘‘ During much of our way across the desert,” said 
the professor, we shall either find poor roads or none 
at all. We shall be obliged to pick out our way across 
stretches of sand, bare rocks, or surfaces covered by 
broken stones. We shall be compelled, therefore, to cut 

91 


The Land of Drough. 

down the weight of our luggage as much as pile to 

‘‘ I do not mean that there are no good roads in the 
Colorado Desert,” continued the professor. Several 
railroads cross it, and there are a few fairly good 
wagon roads, but most of the roads are mere trails, es- 
pecially across those parts of the desert where the pro- 
fessional work of Mr. Christian and myself will take 
us during most of our journey.” 

Mr. Christian had originally planned to leave Phila- 
delphia with them, but a few days before the end of 
the two weeks he was called to Pittsburgh on im- 
portant business, and was therefore obliged to leave 
them. 

“ I will join you as your train passes through Pitts- 
burgh,” he said. 

Although very busy, the professor urged the boys to 
take a brisk walk every afternoon through some part 
of the city or other. They were so constantly think- 
ing about their coming journey that they saw but 
little going on around them that was not in some way 
or other connected with the study of mineralogy or 
geology. 

While passing, one day, through a portion of the city 
where a large building operation was going on, they 
had an opportunity of examining the excavations that 
had been made for the cellars of a long row of houses. 
As is common in Philadelphia, the soil consisted mainly 
of gravel. Nearly all the cellars had been dug, and 
none of the cellar walls had been built. They could 
therefore observe on the vertical sides of the excava- 
92 


i he Land of Drought 

..it arrangements of the successive beds, or lay- 
ers, of the gravel. 

“ Gravel is a fragmentary rock, is it not, Rob ? ” 
inquired Happy. 

“Sure,” was the reply; “it consists of fragments 
of rocks. Why do you ask ? ” 

“ And,” continued Happy, without answering his 
question, “ it is an aqueous rock, is it not?” 

“ I think so,” replied Rob. 

“ And sedimentary ? continued Happy. 

“ Look here. Happy,” exclaimed Rob, “ what are 
you trying to get at, anyhow ? ” 

“If a gravel bed is a stratified rock, why should 
not its layers be parallel to one another? Now look 
for yourself and you will see that these are not.” 

“ That’s so,” replied Rob. “ I wonder why that 
is?” 

They endeavored to reason this out for themselves, 
but were unable to do so. 

Notwithstanding the many things to which he had 
to attend, the professor managed to get some time 
every day in which he could talk to them on some sub- 
ject he thought would be of use to them while away. 

When Rob explained the difficulty they had about 
the arrangement of the successive layers in gravel 
banks, the professor smiled and said : 

“ That is a difficulty all are apt to have when they 
begin to study geology almost anywhere in the north- 
ern part of the United States. The surface of the 
country around Philadelphia, and indeed in practi- 
93 


The Land of Drought 

cally all the northern parts of North America, is cov- 
ered with a peculiar geological formation known as 
the drift.” 

Is the drift an aqueous rock, professor? ” inquired 
Rob. 

“ I suppose it might be called an aqueous rock,” 
was the reply ; “ although to a great extent much of 
the material has been deposited by ice. Some, however, 
was deposited by ordinary water.” 

Seeing that they did not understand him, the pro- 
fessor added : 

‘‘ You must know that during a comparatively recent 
geological age, perhaps only a few hundred thousand 
years ago, the climate of the northern continents was 
much colder than now, and, indeed, than probably ever 
before. This cold was so severe and prolonged that 
the land became covered with an ice sheet so deep as to 
reach far above the tops of the mountains. It can 
be shown that in the eastern part of the United States 
this ice sheet extended in some places at least eight 
thousand feet above the general level.” 

“Was the ice sheet like a glacier, professor?” in- 
quired Rob. 

“ So much like a glacier that the geological period 
during which it was deposited is known as the Glacial 
Period. The ice sheet differed from a glacier, how- 
ever, in its size and, therefore, in the direction of its 
movements. As you know, a glacier moves or slides 
slowly over the bottom of the valley in which it has 
collected, in a direction that depends on the slope of the 
94 


The Land of Drought 

valley. This was not the case with the great ice sheet 
that covered so much of the northern continents. Its 
movements depended entirely on the difference of level 
of its upper surface. When it began to slip or slide, it 
moved from the higher level, at the top of the ice mass, 
to the lower level. When its motion was opposed by 
the slopes of a mountain, the force which pushed down- 
ward was sufficient to cause it to move up one slope, 
across the top of the mountain, and down the opposite 
slope. 

“ Like ordinary glaciers, the moving ice sheet,” con- 
tinued the professor, ‘‘ cut deep grooves in the surface 
over which it moved. It also left parallel scratches on 
portions of the hard rock covering portions of the 
valleys it had so formed. But it did more than this. 
It carried with it enormous quantities of rock frag- 
ments, rounded rocks, and finely powdered minerals 
that, when it afterward melted, which it did when the 
climate of the earth again became warm, it dropped 
over the surface of the earth in layers of more or less 
uniform thickness. This material is known as the 
drift. It consists of masses of broken rock, gravel, 
and clay. 

‘‘ What especially characterizes the drift,” continued 
the professor, “ is the occasional presence of huge frag- 
ments of rocks, known as boulders, that are found 
lying on the surface in places that were once covered 
by the ice sheet. These rock fragments were evidently 
brought from a distance; for, generally speaking, they 
are entirely different from the rocks on which they are 
95 


The Land of Drought 

found resting. In many cases it is possible to find the 
places from which the boulders have been carried. At 
first it bothered geologists no little when it was shown 
that some of these boulders had been carried from 
points high up on the sides of a mountain, across a 
valley, the lower portions of which were thousands of 
feet below the point on the mountain slope from which 
they were obtained, and deposited high up on the oppo- 
site side of the valley. When, however, the idea was 
conceived, of a huge ice sheet, covering the entire sur- 
face of the country, and sloping generally from the 
north to the south, the difficulty of accounting for 
their movement became apparent. As the ice gradu- 
ally slipped from the higher to the lower level, or gen- 
erally from the north to the south, it carried with it the 
large fragments as well as the smaller ones, leaving 
them at different places as the mass melted. 

‘‘ Coming now to the gravel beds you were examin- 
ing,” said the professor; “ for the greater part, these 
were spread over the ground just as they dropped 
from the melting ice mass. In places, however, they 
were arranged in more or less parallel strata by streams 
of water produced by the rapid melting of the ice. In 
this way it is possible to explain the parallel arrange- 
ment of beds in some places, as well as their lack of 
parallelism in others.” 

The day before they left Philadelphia, when they had 
called at the professor’s office, he opened an atlas and 
said : 


96 


The Land of Drought 

“ I wish you to become acquainted with the geogra- 
phy of the country through which you are about to 
travel. Here is an excellent map of the southwestern 
part of the United States. It includes California, Ne- 
vada, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico. 
This portion of the country extends generally south 
of about the fiftieth parallel of north latitude, as far 
south as the Republic of Mexico. We shall spend a 
few months, perhaps longer, in parts of this country. 
It is advisable, therefore, that you become familiar with 
the geography of the district. Take this atlas, carefully 
study the map, and then each make for himself a neat 
copy in the small notebook I advised you to take with 
you. 

“ This section of country,” he continued, ‘‘ is almost 
entirely mountainous. With the exception of the ex- 
treme southwestern part it has no low land. Its sur- 
face contains many elevated plains; or, as they are 
called, plateaus or mesas. Another thing you will 
notice is that there are comparatively few large river 
systems. With the exception of the Sacramento and 
San Joaquin, in California, a few rivers that form the 
headwaters of the Missouri, and a few rivers in New 
Mexico connected with the Rio Grande, there is only 
one great river system, and that is the Colorado. 

I wish you especially to study the peculiarities of 
the Colorado. This great river receives tributaries 
from every one of the States or Territories shown in 
this map, although the tributaries from Colorado, Ne- 
vada, and California are few and small. The Colorado 
G 97 


The Land of Drought 

has its headwaters in the Green and the Grand Rivers, 
in a number of alpine lakes, in some of the highest por- 
tions of the Rocky Mountains system. The lakes form- 
ing the sources of the Grand River are situated a few 
miles west of Long’s Peak. The Green River rises in 
the Wind River Mountains, in Wyoming, near Fre- 
mont’s Peak, where thousands of small alpine lakes 
pour their waters into the main channel, making this 
stream so much larger than the Grand, that it is by 
some regarded as the Colorado River. Generally, 
however, the Colorado River is assumed to be formed 
by the union of the Green and the Grand Rivers. 

“ From the junction of the Green and the Grand, the 
Colorado River flows through a tortuous channel, 
mainly toward the west and then to the south, where it 
empties into the Gulf of California, after a course of 
about two thousand miles. At the junction of the 
Grand and the Green Rivers, the Colorado consists of 
a great stream of water. If, like other rivers, it re- 
ceived the tributaries of larger streams in its lower 
course, it would be one of the greatest rivers in the 
United States. But in all of these two thousand miles 
below the junction of the Green and the Grand, it re- 
ceives practically no large tributaries except the Little 
Colorado and the Gila Rivers. Practically all the 
lower course of the Colorado River is a land of 
drought. The thirsty air so decreases the quantity 
of water by evaporation that, instead of the powerful 
streams of clear mountain water that rush through its 
upper tributaries, it flows sluggishly through its lower 
98 


The Land of Drought 

course laden with the sand and mineral matter it has 
worn from its northern channels. It has lost too, its 
mountain clearness, and its red color, at times almost 
a blood-red, has given to it the name Rio Colorado, 
or the Red River. 

“ Another cause that once decreased the amount of 
water flowing through the lower course of the Colo- 
rado is the fact that the river had formed for itself a 
new channel at a point near Yuma, and, almost desert- 
ing its old channel, had poured through the almost 
deserted channels of two ancient rivers, the New and 
the Alamo. At one time this overflow was so great 
that the river ran dry below the break. The river 
bank, however, has been rebuilt at the break, so that 
the Colorado is now flowing through its old channel to 
the Gulf of Mexico. Of this, however,” said the pro- 
fessor, ‘‘ we will probably see more when we reach the 
river near Yuma.” 

The above description of the Colorado River greatly 
interested the boys. 

“ Then the Colorado is like the Nile, professor, is it 
not? ” inquired Rob; ‘‘ for I understand that the Nile 
rises in a number of great fresh-water lakes in equa- 
torial Africa.” 

“ There are many points of resemblance between the 
Colorado and the Nile,” was the reply. ‘‘ Like the 
Colorado, the Nile has its headwaters in a number of 
great fresh-water lakes, fed by the melting of snow, 
either in the high mountains of Eastern Africa near 
the borders of the Indian Ocean, south of the equator, 
99 


The Land of Drought 

or in the mountains farther to the west. Two great 
fresh- water lakes, Albert and Victoria Nyanza, join 
with other streams in forming the White Nile, while 
farther to the north the river receives two other tribu- 
taries, the Blue Nile and the Atbara, that have their 
sources in the plateau of Abyssinia. 

“ But, perhaps, the greatest point of similarity be- 
tween the Colorado and Nile is to be found in the 
character of the country forming the lower courses of 
these rivers. From the point where it receives the 
waters of the Atbara, to its mouth in the Mediterranean 
Sea, a distance of fifteen hundred miles, the Nile does 
not receive a single tributary of any importance. These 
fifteen hundred miles extend through an almost rain- 
less district, the deserts of Nubia and parts of Libya, 
in which the river loses, instead of receives water. The 
fact that it reaches the sea at all shows the great volume 
of water that is constantly being poured into it by its 
southern tributaries.” 

“ What gives the water of the Colorado River its 
red color, Uncle Joseph?” inquired Norman. 

“ Compounds of iron which the water dissolves from 
the lava and other rocks over which it flows,” was the 
reply. 

It is by no means an easy thing to make a copy of a 
map, especially in a small notebook, when it is of a 
different size than that of the atlas from which it is 
, copied. It is not surprising, therefore, that each of 
the boys was obliged to make a number of copies be- 
fore he was satisfied with the result. These difficulties, 


lOO 


The Lcind of Drought 

however, were not without their advantages ; for, when 
the boys finally completed the maps, their knowledge of 
the relative positions of the different features of the 
country was fairly well grounded. 

I do not think it necessary to say that there was one 
part of the map they began carefully examining as 
soon as they reached Rob’s study. 

“Let’s look up Yuma; the place from which we 
start, Rob,” exclaimed Norman. “ I remember Uncle 
Joseph said it is in Arizona. I’d like to know in just 
what part it is situated.” 

They soon found Yuma in the southwestern part of 
Arizona, on the eastern bank of the Colorado River, at 
its junction with the Gila. 

In drawing their maps, the boys endeavored to locate 
the different rivers and their tributaries as correctly 
as possible. Their want of experience in this work re- 
sulted in their locating some of these rivers many hun- 
dreds of miles out of their true positions, but they 
at least succeeded in having the names and relative 
positions impressed on their memories. 

Norman had considerable difficulty in drawing his 
map when he tried to represent a number of small 
lakes in Nevada and California, east of the Sierra-Ne- 
vada Mountains, and in northern and western Utah. 
Somehow, or other, he believed that lakes always form 
the headwaters of rivers, and therefore discharge their 
waters into the rivers. He had drawn a number of 
these lakes with their rivers, and was endeavoring to 
find places where they could empty into another river. 
lOI 


The Land of Drought 

What’s up, Norman ? ” inquired Rob laughing, 
suspecting the difficulty. 

“ There’s something wrong with these miserable 
little lakes,” he replied. ‘‘ I don’t see how they can 
discharge their waters into the river systems the pro- 
fessor was talking about.” 

“ Try it the other way,” said Rob laughing. ‘‘ Those . 
lakes do not discharge into the rivers; the rivers dis- 
charge into the lakes.” 

‘‘ Then, into what do the lakes discharge ? ” inquired 
Norman. 

“ Into the air,” was the reply. 

“ Let’s see how many of these curious lakes we can 
find on the map,” exclaimed Happy. The rivers 
that empty into the lakes have little tails connected with 
the lake that makes me think of tadpoles.” 

“ Why is it, Rob,” inquired Norman, “ that these 
lakes do not empty into the ocean or into another 
river? ” 

Because the mountain walls surrounding them 
are too high,” was the reply. “ The rainfall is so small 
that the rivers cannot fill the lakes with water high 
enough to enable it to discharge over the lowest parts 
of their mountain walls.” 

“ Then,” said Happy, “ the countries that are 
marked with the sign of the tadpole ; that is, with lakes 
that have no connection with the ocean, are countries 
that have a very small rainfall. Is that so, Rob? ” 

‘‘ That’s the way I understand it,” was the reply. 

They are generally desert countries.” 

102 


CHAPTER X 


Another Letter from Blavinski 

B. B. Blank, the detective, was alone sitting at a desk 
in his private office. He had been puzzling out one of 
the many cases entrusted to his care. His troubled 
countenance at last assumed a pleased expression as 
he evidently reached a satisfactory conclusion. All 
doubts had at last been removed ; for one drawing near 
him might have heard him say to himself : 

“ Fve squared it all at last. I don’t believe I’ll have 
any trouble now in running that fellow down.” 

The case the detective was referring to was one in 
which we have no interest. 

At last he heard sounds of footsteps ascending the 
staircase. He began counting the footsteps, endeavor- 
ing to determine the character of the caller from the 
peculiarity of the steps. 

“ Light steps,” he said to himself. “ Must be a 
young person, and yet I can’t square it that a young 
person moves so slowly.” 

The detective smiled; for, when at last the door 
opened a Western Union Telegraph boy slowly entered 
the room. 

“ Of course the boy walks slowly,” he thought. 
“ You don’t catch a messenger boy running the flesh 
off his bones by overexertion.” 

103 


The Land of Drought 

“ I’ve a telegram for B. B. Blank,” said the boy. 

Are you the man, mister ? ” 

Of course Fm the man,” was the reply. '' Give me 
the telegram.” 

Shall I wait for an answer? ” said the boy. 

No answer,” he replied, when he read the mes- 
sage. ♦ 

The message evidently surprised him; for he again 
read it, this time aloud : 


B. Blank: 


“ Come to my office as soon as possible, 
about an important matter. 


I wish to consult you 
A. W. Francksen."’ 


“ I wonder what’s up! ” he exclaimed. “ Why didn’t 
the man use the phone? He could have reached me 
more quickly and have given me some idea as to what 
he wanted to see me about. However, I’ll go.” 

On reaching the lapidary’s office, Fred Loosing met 
him. He recognized Mr. Blank; for, as related in the 
first volume of the series, Fred had aided him in the 
recovery of the Dimitri and the Blavinski diamonds. 

‘‘ Mr. Francksen is expecting you, Mr. Blank. He 
told me to ask you to wait when you called. He said 
he would return in a short time.” 

After a wait of nearly half an hour Francksen ap- 
peared. 

** I am sorry to have kept you waiting. I was 
obliged to go to another part of the city on an impor- 
tant matter.” 


104 


The Land of Drought 

“What do you want to consult me about?” in- 
quired Mr. Blank, coming at once to the point. 

“ About a letter I have just received from Blavinski. 
You remember the man, of course.” 

“ Of course I remember Blavinski,” was the reply. 
“ I’m not apt to forget him. He is a very pleasant 
man to work for. He not only knows good service 
when he gets it, but is willing to pay for it in a liberal, 
indeed, one can almost say, in a princely manner.” 

“ I’m glad you like to work for Blavinski,” said 
Francksen, “ for that is just what he asks me in a letter 
to try to get you to do.” 

“ Read the letter,” said the detective. “ Unless 
you have good reasons for doing otherwise, read me 
everything in it. Leaving out of a line or so may make 
a great difference to one who has to deal with the 
matter described.” 

“ There’s nothing in the letter I wish to keep from 
you,” was the reply. “ Listen, I will read it from be- 
ginning to end. You will find it a long one.” 

He read as follows: 

“St. Petersburg, Russia. 

“ My Dear Francksen : 

“ When I sent you a letter a short time ago asking you, in con- 
nection with Professor Fugleman, to take charge of a sum of 
money I wished expended for the benefit of the two lads, Robert 
Harold Gordon 3rd and Ralph Earle Clinton, I did not think 
I would be obliged to ask another favor so soon, but there is 
an additional service I hope you will render me. 

“ You will probably remember, when I was in your workshop 
at Amsterdam some years ago, while you were cutting and 
polishing the Dimitri diamonds, that I asked your opinion as to 

105 


The Land of Drought 

an extremely valuable emerald I was authorized to purchase for 
Prince Dimitri. The prince had heard that this emerald was for 
sale by a party in Amsterdam and, since I was there looking 
after the cutting of his diamonds, he wrote, asking me to make 
a careful examination of the stone, and if I found it flawless 
and possessing fire and luster, he wished me to purchase it for 
him. He was looking for an emerald suitable for a present to 
the Czar of Russia, and was, of course, unwilling to present to his 
majesty anything but a gem of the first water. He, therefore, 
instructed me to examine carefully the stone, take an expert 
opinion as to its value, and, if everything was satisfactory, to 
purchase it, and draw on him for the cost. 

“You must know that Prince Dimitri is not only an extremely 
rich man, but is also very liberal. When you assured me that 
the stone was of an unusual luster and quality, I purchased it, 
and, at your advice, had it recut and polished. Although it was 
somewhat decreased in weight and size, yet it was so greatly im- 
proved in fire and brilliancy that it was far more valuable after 
the recutting than before. 

“ Dimitri presented this stone to the Czar, who was highly 
pleased with it. He, indeed, might have been, for it was one 
of the most valuable emeralds the czar had in his entire collec- 
tion. 

“ This stone has been stolen. Just how long ago the Czar i^ 
unable to say, for he had been called away from St. Petersburg 
at different times, and had not seen it for a long while. 

“You will remember that both Mashinsky and Metchiniskoff 
were in your workshop when the recutting of the emerald was 
going on. They were, therefore, fully aware of its unusual 
value. 

“As soon as the Czar discovered the loss of the stone, he 
placed the matter in the hands of his chief of police. After con- 
siderable work, the chief came to the conclusion that Metchin- 
iskoff was the thief, for he had been seen in St. Petersburg on 
several occasions during the absence of the Czar. 

“ I know you would be able to recognize the stolen gem. Re- 
membering the efficient services Mr. B. B. Blank, a detective, 
rendered me in the recovery of both the Dimitri and the Blavinski 
diamonds, and also that both you and Mr. Blank would be able 

io6 


The Land of Drought 

to recognize Metchiniskoff, I write to ask whether you and 
he would not be willing to look after the matter for the Czar in 
America. He is a most liberal man, and will amply pay for any 
services you or others may render him. 

“As this case may require the following of the two men, 
Metchiniskoff and Mashinsky, to the western part of the United 
States, where the Czar’s chief of police believes he has located 
them and where they went after you so cleverly secured the dia- 
monds, and this will require the expenditure of no little money, 
I enclose a letter of credit in your name, for the sum of 
five thousand dollars. If you are willing to undertake the case 
you may employ it freely for expenses. Should you find the 
amount insufficient, you can draw on me, by cable, for an addi- 
tional sum. 

“ Please let me know by cablegram whether you and Mr. Blank 
will undertake this work. 

“ At the request of the Czar, I am sending one of his best de- 
tectives, Ivan Petromelinsky to Philadelphia to aid Mr. Blank in 
this matter. He sails shortly after the vessel that carries this 
letter. I think, therefore, you may expect him to arrive about 
the same time. 

“ Hoping to receive a cablegram to the effect that you and 
Mr. Blank have undertaken the case, I am, 

“ Very truly yours, 

“ Blavinski.” 

And now,” said Francksen when he had finished 
reading the letter, “what do you say, Blank? Will 
you undertake this case and go with me to the West in 
search of the rascal ? ” 

“ Will I undertake a case for the Czar of Russia? ” 
inquired Blank, in surprise that such a question should 
be asked. “ Of course Fll undertake the case. It is 
not every day a man is offered such a chance. And 
then, Francksen, let me tell you, Fve heard of this man 
Petromelinsky. He is by far the best detective in all 

107 


The Land of Drought 

Russia, and that’s saying no little. It is a great honor 
to work on a case with such a man. The Czar must 
be very much in earnest to send one of his best men to 
America, and to be willing to spend so much money 
on the case.” 

“ Yes, he certainly is in earnest about it,” was the 
reply. Besides,” he added, “ Prince Dimitri wishes to 
have the men punished for the theft of the diamonds.” 

Tell me, Francksen,” said Blank, “ what is the 
value of the Czar’s emerald? It must be considerable 
from the way he is acting. Think of his sending a 
letter of credit for five thousand dollars, as it were, 
for just starting the case, and instructing you to draw 
for more if necessary.” 

The emerald is an exceedingly valuable stone,” 
was the reply ; ‘‘ but it is difficult to price a stone like 
it. There are so few people able to purchase it. From 
what Blavinski told me he paid for it, and from what 
I have seen of the stone itself, I would say that its 
value must be fully two hundred thousand dollars.” 
(See ‘‘ Emeralds.” Appendix A.) 

As a rule, B. B. Blank had such control over his 
countenance that it was very seldom he permitted it to 
express astonishment or any other emotion. This time, 
however, what had been told him so greatly astonished 
him that Francksen had no difficulty in reading these 
emotions on the man’s face. 

“ How soon can you get ready to go West with me, 
Francksen? ” inquired Blank. 

“ I can go at almost any time. Of course you can- 
108 


The Land of Drought 

not start until the Russian detective arrives. I can cer- 
tainly be ready by that time.” 

“ He may be here at any moment,” said Blank. 
‘‘ Francksen,” he continued, do you remember the 
shape and size of the Czar’s emerald sufficiently well 
to be able to make a drawing of it for me? I should 
have some idea of the size and general shape of the 
stone, so that I might try to recognize it if you were 
not present.” 

“ There will be no trouble about that,” was the reply. 
‘‘ In cutting gems of great value, I have made it a rule 
to keep a record of the same in the shape of a drawing. 
I have such a drawing in that fireproof safe standing 
against the wall,” he said, pointing to a huge safe that 
stood in the larger of his two workshops. ‘‘ I will get 
it and make you a copy at once.” 

When the detective received it, he said to Franck- 
sen : 

I must at once make arrangements to be away 
from the city for several months. I will go to my 
private office and think this case over. We can do but 
little* until Petromelinsky arrives in Philadelphia.” 

On reaching his office, the detective, as usual, began 
talking to himself about the case. 

** This is a great case,” he said. “ If I can catch 
those fellows, Mashinsky and Metchiniskoff, it will be 
a great feather in my cap. Now, how can I best do 
this? If I could only find the lads, Gordon and 
Clinton, who helped me in the case of the Dimitri 
and the Blavinski diamonds, I would be fixed all right. 
109 


The Land of Drought 

They are great lads, and know both Mashinsky and 
Metchiniskoff. Had I better speak to Francksen about 
them at once ? ” After a moment’s silence he said : “ I 
guess I’ll not say anything about the lads just now, but 
wait until Ivan Petromelinsky reaches Philadelphia. 
He might object to being aided by two youngsters.” 

That afternoon Ivan Petromelinsky reached the 
city, and brought a letter from Blavinski introducing 
him to Mr. Blank. Blank was greatly pleased to find 
that Petromelinsky could speak English fluently. The 
Russian detective apparently assumed, as a matter of 
course, that Blank would be willing to do the work for 
the Czar. The two men talked the case over. Blank 
making a good impression on the Russian by the in- 
telligent questions he asked about what had occurred 
in St. Petersburg. Nor was this admiration all on 
one side. Blank found that Ivan was an unusually 
bright man. 

“ I cannot square it,” he said to the Russian, how 
Metchiniskoff could have managed to steal an article 
of such great value from the Czar ; for I imagine that 
things of such value are not only kept under lock and 
key, but are guarded practically all the time.” 

“ I can explain that, Blank,” was the reply. “ There 
is no doubt in my mind that Metchiniskoff had as an 
accomplice one of the Czar’s guards. This man ob- 
tained the gems and carried them to Metchiniskoff.” 

“ Then we have two men to look for,” exclaimed 
Blank. 

“ Not at all,” was the reply. That man’s dead 
no 


The Land of Drought 

body was found with a wound piercing his heart. 
There is no doubt that in order to keep his secret the 
better, as well as to obtain for himself the entire value 
of the stolen gem, Metchiniskoff murdered him. It is 
by no means only for the recovery of the emerald that 
the Czar wishes the man to be apprehended. He wishes 
to have the murderer punished in Russia for the crime 
he committed in that country.” 

‘‘ Of course, you understand,” said Blank, that it 
will be necessary for you to make some arrangement 
with the Russian consul here in order to obtain ex- 
tradition papers from the United States government, 
authorizing you to take the man out of the United 
States if found.” 

“ I have already done that,” was the reply. ‘‘ The 
consul assures me there will be no difficulty, whatever, 
in getting these papers, provided it can be shown that 
the man was guilty of murder as well as theft.” 

“ Tell me,” said Blank, ‘‘ where you believe you have 
located these men.” 

“ I feel fairly sure,” was the reply, ‘‘ that they are in 
Salt Lake City.” 

‘‘ Why do you suppose they have gone to such a 
place ? Supposing Metchiniskoff has the emerald with 
him, he could not hope to dispose of it in that part of 
the country.” 

‘‘ I have asked myself that question again and again,” 
exclaimed Petromelinsky. ‘‘ I think it probable that 
they intend to return to Russia by steamer from San 
Francisco.” 


Ill 


The Land of Drought 

'‘Then, you think the two men are together?” in- 
quired Blank, “ and that Metchmiskoff has the emerald 
with him? ” 

“ As to the two men being together,” replied Pe- 
tromelinsky, “ I cannot say. I think, however, that if 
Metchiniskoff could manage to get away from Ma- 
shinsky, he would do so. But if I am right in suppo- 
sing that Mashinsky has learned that his companion has 
the stolen emerald, I feel sure the two are yet together ; 
for Mashinsky will certainly never permit Metchinis- 
koff to get out of his sight.” 

Blank now told the Russian about Rob and Happy, 
and the clever manner in which they had been able to 
recognize Mashinsky and Metchiniskoff, and of the 
efficient aid they had rendered him in recovering the 
Dimitri and Blavinski diamonds. The Russian at once 
inquired whether he thought it possible to obtain the 
consent of the parents of these boys to their going West 
with them, and aiding them in the search. 

" I hardly know how to answer that question,” re- 
plied Blank. " Suppose we go at once and ask Franck- 
sen, who is well acquainted with both boys ? ” 

Blank and Petromelinsky were greatly disappointed 
when, on making inquiries of Francksen as to where 
to find the boys, that gentleman replied : 

" They left this morning for Yuma, Ariz., on a long 
trip across the Colorado Desert, in company with Pro- 
fessor Engleman and Mr. Christian.” 

“ Send the professor a telegram to Pittsburgh, 
Blank,” said Petromelinsky, " to be delivered on the 

II2 


The Land of Drought 

train. Tell him what has happened, and ask him to 
keep on the outlook for the two men. While Salt 
Lake City is far off in northern Utah, there is no 
telling what might happen if we can get two sharp lads, 
such as you have described to me, to keep on the out- 
look for the men. Don’t you agree with me. Blank? ” 
I do,” was the reply. 

“ Don’t hesitate to send a full despatch, so as to let 
the professor know all that has happened,” said Pe- 
tromelinsky. “ It would be false economy to try to 
save expense by sending too brief a message.” 

“ By the way. Blank,” suggested Francksen, “ don’t 
forget that there was another lad who knew Mashinsky 
and Metchiniskoff by sight. I refer to Emil Schloss. 
Emil is now with his uncle in Leadville, Colo. If you 
sent a telegram to him, he would be another person to 
keep on the outlook for the men.” 

“ A good suggestion, Francksen,” said Petromel- 
insky. Then turning to Blank, he said : Send the 
telegram, explaining' what is going on, asking the lad 
to wire to you at Planter’s Hotel, St. Louis, collect, 
should he obtain any information.” 

“ I will go and send the telegrams,” said Francksen. 
“ Wait here for me, Petromelinsky ; I’ll be back before 
long.” 

On his return Petromelinsky got additional particu- 
lars concerning the manner in which the boys had 
aided. 

“ It is evident. Blank,” said his companion, after he 
had thought on what he had heard, “ that Metchinis- 

H 113 


The Land of Drought 

koff had the emerald with him while in Philadelphia, 
don’t you think so? ” 

That’s the way I regard it,” replied Blank. 

“ And that Mashinsky knew nothing whatever about 
the matter. Don’t you agree with me? ” 

“ Yes,” was the reply. 


CHAPTER XI 


Arrival at Yuma 

“ Here comes Mr. Christian,” exclaimed the profess- 
or to the boys, as their train stopped at the station in 
Pittsburgh; for they had left Philadelphia as agreed, 
and were now near the extreme western part of Penn- 
sylvania. 

‘‘ You had better order an extra burro, Joe,” he said 
to Professor Engleman after he had greeted the boys 
pleasantly. 

‘‘ Why so, John ? ” inquired the professor in a laugh- 
ing tone, for the two men were so well acquainted that 
they quite frequently called each other by their first 
names. 

“ Because of the appetites healthy boys are sure to 
have,” he replied with a merry twinkle in his eyes. 
“ But, coming to something more important than the 
matter of food ” 

In work like that in which we expect to engage,” 
interrupted the professor with mock gravity, “ there 
cannot be anything more important than the matter of 
food. Don’t you agree with me, boys ? ” he said, ad- 
dressing the lads. 

The boys said nothing; they only grinned. But it 
was evident that they regarded an abundant food sup- 
ply as of great importance. 

115 


The Land of Drought 

“ But go on, John,” continued the professor. “ I 
will not interrupt you again.” 

As I was saying, Joe,” continued Mr. Christian 
good-naturedly, “ coming now to a more important 
matter than the subject of food, I have some informa- 
tion concerning the Indians and their white captives. 
In Pittsburgh, yesterday, I met a prospector who had 
just come from the desert regions near Yuma. He 
tells me he had heard the rumors concerning the In- 
dians and their white captives, and said that they were 
last seen in the Colorado Desert moving slowly to- 
ward the northeast.” 

“ I don’t understand how it could be possible, John,” 
said the professor, “ for Indians to carry white cap- 
tives across the country. I should think the white 
people would rescue them.” 

Were the white men seen, Mr. Christian, on any 
of these occasions ? ” inquired Rob. 

“ I believe not,” was the reply. “ I have asked all 
those who have spoken to me about the matter why 
the white prisoners were not rescued. The answer 
was that, although the Indians were seen, their white 
captives were always invisible. I was also informed 
that the Indians did not follow well-traveled routes 
where they might meet white people, but trails that are 
seldom used.” 

‘‘ There would not be much difficulty about that, 
John,” said the professor to his friend. 

“There would not, indeed,” was the reply; “for, 
as you know, the desert in this part of California is not 

ii6 


The Land of Drought 

crossed by many people. Indeed, one might readily 
travel day after day without meeting any one. Be- 
sides, there are plenty of places where the Indians 
could hide their captives, and so keep them from being 
seen by white people.’’ 

The boys, especially Rob, listened intently to this 
conversation. The possibility of again seeing his fa- 
ther and grandfather was always before Rob’s mind, 
and his chums shared his anxiety. 

In crossing the desert, professor,” said Rob, I 
suppose that in order to meet the Indians our best way 
will be, as far as possible, to follow the less-traveled 
trails.” 

“ Don’t worry yoursetf about that, my lad,” said 
Mr. Christian, answering for the professor. “ Ex- 
cept on a few roads in the neighborhood of the rail- 
roads, all the trails we expect to follow are very 
seldom used. It may, however, please you to know 
that both the professor and myself expect to do some 
prospecting, as well as make an examination of a num- 
ber of mining claims, and this will take us across por- 
tions of the country that are but little frequented.” 

The above conversation had taken place while the 
train was still in the station at Pittsburgh, being made 
up for its start West. A few moments before it started 
a telegraph boy, entering the train, cried out : 

‘‘Telegram for J. J. Engleman!” 

He was about repeating the call, when the professor, 
beckoning to him, said : 

“ That is for me. Are there any charges? ” 

117 


The Land of Drought 

'' No, sir,” was the reply. It is prepaid.” 

Opening the despatch the professor read it, when, 
turning to his companions, he remarked. 

This is certainly very unexpected news. Listen, 
I’ll read it to you.” He then read the following: 

“ Philadelphia, Pa. 

“ Prof. J. J. Engleman : 

“ I leave Philadelphia in a few days in company with B. B. 
Blank and Ivan Petromelinsky, a detective from St. Petersburg, 
Russia, in the hope of arresting Mashinsky and Metchiniskoff, 
who, you will remember, stole the Blavinski and Dimitri dia- 
monds. 

“ Blavinski writes me that Metchiniskoff is wanted in Russia 
both for murder and for the theft of an extremely valuable 
emerald belonging to the Czar. 

“ Blank wishes me to endeavor to persuade the two lads, 
Robert and Ralph, to go with us to the West to help find these 
men. When I learned the purpose for which you had gone West, 
I felt sure they would be unwilling to accept the offer. 

“We have reasons for believing that the men are now in Salt 
Lake City, Utah.- Should they learn they are being tracked, they 
will probably make for some other place. If you should chance 
to come across them wire me, collect, at your first opportunity, 
care of Planters’ Hotel, St. Louis, and the telegram will be for- 
warded to me. 

“As soon as you receive this, wire me, Pittsburgh, what your 
address will be, so that I can keep you posted as to what is 
going on. 

“ Fred Loosing will accompany me. 

“A. W. Francksen.” 

‘‘ Mashinsky and Metchiniskoff are even worse men 
than we thought them,” said Rob. ‘‘ I hope they catch 
them.” 

Same here,” said Happy. 

ii8 


The Land of Drought 

“ Are you sorry you cannot go with Mr. Blank and 
become amateur detectives, boys,” inquired the prO' 
fessor, “ or would you prefer to be with us? That is,” 
he added, turning to Rob, supposing you were not 
hoping to find your relatives.” 

‘‘ Would I rather be with the detectives helping to 
run down those men than be with you and Mr. Chris- 
tian, where I will have such a splendid chance to 
study ? ” replied Rob. Why, of course, I would 
rather be with you.” 

And how do you feel about it. Happy? ” inquired 
the professor. 

‘‘ I would much prefer being with you and Mr. 
Christian,” was the reply. “ Like Rob, I wish to learn 
all I can about mineralogy and geology, and I am sure 
there will be an excellent chance of my doing so while 
with you gentlemen.” 

You have come to a very sensible conclusion, my 
lads,” said Mr. Christian, who had quietly listened 
while the above conversation was going on. “ Still, 
the offer Mr. Blank makes, to take you across the 
continent for this purpose, is an unusual compliment. 
You may be sure he never would have made it had he 
not believed the services you could render him would 
be worth all they cost.” 

It was evident that the offer pleased both boys, es- 
pecially Happy. Not that Happy wished to accept it 
any more than Rob, but because it seemed to him only 
another instance of the wonderful good luck that was 
always coming to him. 

1 19 


The Land of Drought 

Did I not tell you,” he said to his boy friends, 
that I’m all the time having good luck ? ” 

“ What place will you select for your telegraphic 
address, Mr. Christian?” asked the professor. 

'' I think Planters’ Hotel, St. Louis, will be the 
best,” was the reply. I had thought of choosing El 
Paso, but the telegraph facilities at St. Louis are far 
better than at a small place like El Paso. Then, as 
we intend stopping over at St. Louis for a few hours, 
I can make arrangements for having all telegrams 
repeated when, from time to time, we reach places 
having telegraphic facilities.” 

It is not our intention to describe in detail the jour- 
ney to Yuma. It will suffice to say that they passed 
through Chicago, St. Louis, Kansas City, Topeka, and 
El Paso. 

They all had an exceedingly pleasant time en route ; 
the men because they enjoyed the company of the 
bright, lively lads who were with them, and the boys 
because both Professor Engleman and Mr. Christian 
not only pointed out the more interesting features of 
the country in respect to geology, but also explained 
them. As Rob had predicted, they found that Mr. 
Christian was as good a teacher as the professor, and 
this was saying no little. 

When they reached St. Louis, the professor re- 
quested that all telegrams should be repeated first to 
El Paso, then to Yuma, and afterward to such places 
as he would advise them. 


120 


The Land of Drought 

At last they reached Yuma, the town from which 
their journey across the desert would begin. Yuma 
is a mining town that is situated in almost the extreme 
southwestern corner of Arizona, at the mouth of the 
Gila River; that is, where the Gila empties into the 
Colorado. Yuma is situated in a straight line, two 
hundred and thirty miles northeast of Los Angeles, 
Cal. Nor is it far from the Republic of Mexico. In- 
deed, if at a sufficient elevation, with no obstructions 
to the view, one would be able to see Arizona on the 
east, California on the west, and the Republic of 
Mexico on the south. 

Although the Colorado River, as already stated, is 
greatly decreased in volume during the dry season, 
yet it is generally navigable from its mouth, at the 
head of the Gulf of California, as far north as Yuma 
and beyond. 

The territorial prison of Arizona is situated at 
Yuma, while to the west, immediately across the river 
in California, is a small military fort, known as Fort 
Yuma. 

The boys had an excellent opportunity of forming 
an idea of the character of the country between El 
Paso and Yuma, since much of the journey, east of 
Yuma, was made during the day. It was, for the 
greater part, a desertlike region. Dreary stretches of 
sand were to be seen for much of the way through the 
windows of the Pullman cars on both sides of the rail- 
road. Except in irrigated districts, there was no vege- 
tation whatever in sight. They noticed one feature 
121 


The Land of Drought 

which is common along all the railroads in this sec- 
tion of the country — huge watertanks kept filled for 
the purpose of supplying the locomotive boilers with 
water. The tank stations were lonely places, the entire 
population often consisting only of the man in charge 
of the pumps and his family. 


122 


CHAPTER XII 


Colorado Bill, Sam Ling, and 
Awake-in-the-Night 

Our party had stopped over at El Paso in order to 
purchase the food supplies and other articles neces- 
sary for their equipment. These supplies were placed 
on the same train that brought them into Yuma. It 
will be unnecessary to describe in detail the different 
articles purchased, except to say that they comprised 
ordinary canned goods, and such other foodstuffs as 
possessed the advantages of small bulk and weight and 
great nutrition. They also purchased two large water- 
bottles, shaped so as to be carried on one of the 
burros. Separate water-flasks too were obtained for 
each of the party to carry for himself. In this way 
the most important article for a journey through the 
desert, i. e., a full supply of water, was ensured. Be- 
sides the above, they obtained excellent horses for 
each of the party, and four burros for carrying the 
packs. 

An important purchase made in Philadelphia was a 
small medicine case containing various medicines, be- 
sides such surgical instruments as lances, scissors, and 
silk for sewing cuts, needles, a clinical thermometer 
for measuring temperatures, and several hypodermic 
syringes, with a supply of permanganate of potash, 
123 


The Land of Drought 

and some other remedies for the bites of snakes and 
other poisonous animals. 

One thing, however, they were unable to obtain, and 
that was three men, one for a guide, one for a cook, 
and one to look after the horses and burros. They 
had confidently expected to find these men at El Paso. 
While, however, there were many men seeking work 
of this kind, none passed the close inspection that Mr. 
Christian and the professor gave them. 

We must be careful about the kind of men we se- 
lect, Joe,” said Mr. Christian. It is almost like ta- 
king men into one’s family to have them go with 
us as these men will. I have heard of cases where 
guides and other helpers have not only abandoned 
their employers in some lonely part of the desert, but 
have even stolen their horses and supplies, leaving 
them either to perish miserably from starvation and 
thirst, or wearily to drag themselves to the nearest 
camp or inhabited place.” 

On talking the matter over as they reached Yuma, 
the professor said to Mr. Christian : 

“ Don’t you think we might manage with two men, 
John?” 

‘'We might,” was the reply; “but I don’t see how 
we could get along properly with less than three. In 
the first place, we need a good guide. While both you 
and I know the general lay of the country, neither of 
us know where to find the springs, wells, and water- 
holes; and without this knowledge it would be fool- 
hardy, not to say dangerous, to attempt to cross the 
124 


The Land of Drought 

desert. Then, we need a man to drive the burros, to 
load and unload them, and look generally after our 
horses. We might possibly do without such a man, yet 
so much of our time would be taken up in the work 
that there would be but little left us. Then, certainly, 
we should not be obliged to cook for ourselves.” 

“ Cannot we help, Mr. Christian ? ” inquired Rob. 
“We could soon learn how to look after the horses 
and do the cooking. Of course, we would be of no 
use as guides.” 

“ It may be necessary to get along with less out- 
side help, Rob,” replied Mr. Christian. “ In this 
case we will be obliged to call on you, but I do not wish 
to do this unless it is necessary. We will spend to- 
morrow looking for the kind of men we want. If 
we fail we may be obliged to take the train to some 
other near town and look for them there.” 

All next day was spent in the search. During this 
time the boys were permitted to walk around the town. 

“ Don’t wander far outside the town, boys,” said 
the professor. “ It is much easier to get lost in the 
desert than you might suppose.” 

The boys took what was called in that part of the 
country a passeare {pass-e-are), a Spanish word for 
walk intended for pleasure only. While taking this 
walk. Happy suddenly stopped before a man, prob- 
ably thirty-five years of age, as if he recognized him. 
The man was well built, nearly six feet in height, had 
long black hair that hung down nearly to his shoulders. 
His bright black eyes looked out from under heavy 

125 


The Land of Drought 

black lashes and brows, while a black beard and heavy 
mustache covered nearly all his face below the eyes and 
nostrils. The sombrero he had thrown carelessly on 
the back of his head had its broad rim turned up in 
front and down behind. His velveteen trousers, knit 
shirt, and heavy boots showed signs of long use; for 
the woven fabrics were not only well worn, but were 
bleached by exposure to the sun. A heavy revolver, 
the handle of which projected from his holster, and 
a cartridge belt filled with cartridges, showed that 
the wearer was of the type of man who could be 
counted on as always ready to use his gun when ne- 
cessity arose. 

Noting what Happy was doing, the other boys began 
examining the man. They were pleased with his looks ; 
for he not only had an agreeable, intelligent face, but 
the magnificently developed body that is generally so 
attractive to healthy boys. 

So marked was the inspection, both on the part of 
Happy and the other boys, that the man noticed it; 
not, however, in an ugly manner, for he too had been 
looking at the boys, and appeared equally pleased with 
their appearance. At last, turning to Happy, he said 
pleasantly : 

“ Well, sonny, what kin I do for ye? ” 

You can shake me by the hand. Bill,” cried Happy. 

Have you already forgotten the little chap you taught 
how to shoot and ride on that ranch down in Texas, 
some four years ago ? ” 

‘‘ You hev remembered one part of my name, son- 
126 



‘ Wall, I’ll be busted, if ye beant the 
little kid I uster know down on the 
ranch in Texas’” Page 127 



The Land of Drought 

ny,” exclaimed the man in a surprised tone; ‘‘kin 
ye trot out the other part? ” 

“ I can sure, Colorado Bill,” said Happy smiling. 

Almost instantly a look of pleased recognition came 
into the face of the man. 

“ Wall, ril be busted, if ye beant the little kid I 
uster know down on the ranch in Texas. It hez been 
a long while sence I last seen yer. In consequence, 
ye hev changed a sight, but give us yer paw, Ralph, 
and shake. Fm mighty glad to see ye here. Tell me 
the names of yer pards, so I kin shake with them too,” 
he said, looking pleasantly at Rob and Norman. 

He shook them warmly by the hand when Happy 
told him their names, saying : 

“ Ez Ralph thar kin tell ye,” pointing to Happy, “ I 
hev a soft spot under my shirt for the kind of lads I 
think ye air, so Fm proud to know ye. I hope ye’ll 
hev a fine time at whatever ye hev come into this miser- 
able place fer. What be ye doin’ here, anyhow ? ” he 
said, addressing Happy. 

“ We are here with two geologists and mining en- 
gineers, and hope soon to leave for a trip across the 
Colorado Desert and, possibly, across Arizona. We 
will probably leave here to-morrow or the next day.” 

“ What be yer after, kid ; prospecting, or what ? Is 
it gold and silver, or be yer only out for exercise and 
fun ? But cornin’ to think, I reckon it be gold, silver, 
and sich like; fer thet is what them geologists and en- 
gineers be looking arter nearly all the time.” 

When Happy explained what they hoped to do, and 
127 


The Land of Drought 

told him briefly of the mysterious disappearance of 
Rob’s grandfather and father, as well as of the ru- 
mors they had received when in Philadelphia about 
the Indians and their white captives, he exclaimed : 

“ Howling wildcats, but thet’s fierce ! So ye be 
goin’ across the desert to try to track them Indians? ” 

“Yes,” was the reply; “to do that and to try to 
learn something about mineralogy and geology.” 

What he had heard greatly interested Colorado Bill. 
He was silent for a few moments when, turning to 
Happy, he said: 

“ Hev ye got a guide to pint out the way across thet 
bloomin’ desert ye tell me ye expect to visit? It should 
be a feller who knows these parts purty well, espe- 
cially whar the water-holes and springs be.” 

Happy told him they were just looking for such a 
man, and that, so far, they had not succeeded in finding 
any. He then asked him to come and see the two 
gentlemen who were in charge of the expedition, add- 
ing that had they not already been successful, he 
thought it probable that some arrangements could be 
made with him if he was willing. 

“ Take me to the gents then, Ralph,” said Colorado 
Bill. “ If yer people like me and I like them, it’ll be 
a go. As fer yer two pards,” he said, pointing to 
Happy’s companions, “ I like them already, and ef the 
others be as good, Colorado Bill will sign papers to 
agree to work fer them fer a’most any time ; to go with 
them fer a’most any distance, and he don’t care a darn 
whar they asks him to take them.” 

128 


The Land of Drought 

“ Then gallop along with me and come and have a 
powwow with the men,” said Happy. 

“ So ye ain’t forgot the kind of talk thet ye uster 
use on the ranch? ” said the man, smiling at the words 
gallop and powwow. I be glad of thet. Though I 
like to hear ye talk purty, as ye do now, yet I be glad 
ye slip in now and then an old word.” 

“ Yes,” exclaimed Norman, breaking into his old 
stilted style of talk as he still occasionally did, 
“ Happy, as we call Ralph, is capable of employing 
highly finished language when he feels so disposed.” 

Colorado Bill said nothing, but it was evident from 
the amazed look that came over his face, that he won- 
dered how it happened that Ralph found himself cor- 
raled with a boy who could talk so queer. 

On reaching the house where they were stopping, 
they found the professor and Mr. Christian talking 
with a middle-aged man whose style of dress betokened 
the miner, and its condition showed he had only re- 
cently returned from a long trip. When he saw Colo- 
rado Bill approaching them, he said: 

‘‘ Mr. Christian, the man now crossing the street is 
one of the three who worked for me, of whom I was 
just speaking. His name is Colorado Bill. He is the 
best guide for this part of the country I have ever met. 
He is honest, does not drink, is not afraid of work, is 
pleasant and cheerful, and is what I would call a 
square man.” 

Colorado Bill and the boys now crossed the street, 
when Bill, turning to the strange gentleman, said : 

129 


I 


The Land of Drought 

“ Glad to see you, Cap.” 

“ Professor,” said Happy, shake hands with Colo- 
rado Bill. He and I are old friends. You remember 
I told you I was brought up on a Texas ranch, where I 
learned to ride and shoot. Colorado Bill is the man 
who taught me. If you have not already engaged a 
guide, I hope you can make some arrangement with 
him.” 

As Bill afterward assured Happy, he liked the hull 
shooting-match,” and they seemed to be equally pleased 
with him. It did not, therefore, take them long to 
reach an agreement, both as to the amount of pay Bill 
was to get, the duties he was to be called on to per- 
form, and the length of time during which his serv- 
ices would be required. 

Bill,” said the gentleman, do you know whether 
Sam Ling, the Chinese cook, has found work yet? ” 

I seed him parleying and jollying with another 
heathen Chinese an hour ago. He hadn’t found any 
work then. He told me he expected to light out from 
this place onless he found work quick. Ez ye know, 
Sam is not the kind of feller who is willin’ to sit still 
and do nothin’.” 

“ And how about the other man who was with us, 
the Indian, Awake-in-the-Night ? ” 

‘‘ I saw that feller two hours ago. He hadn’t found 
any work then, although I onderstand he hed been 
looking fer it. He says he wants to arn some money. 
I never could tell what he does with the money he 
arns, fer I know he don’t spend it on himself fer 
130 


The Land of Drought 

whisky or wuss. I would suspect he must be a miser 
if it was not thet he never seemed like.a chap who 
cared fer money simply to lay it aside.” 

“ See if you can find those men and bring them 
here, Bill,” said Mr. Christian. “ If they have not 
found work, and I like their looks. I’ll engage them.” 

“ Ef ye do. Cap,” replied Colorado Bill, I reckon 
you’ll hev an all-right outfit; fer, even if I says it my- 
self, who perhaps oughtn’t to, ye’ll hev a good guide, 
a feller who kin look arter the bosses, and a cook bet- 
ter’n any thet kin be found in this bloomin’ desert. 
Wouldn’t ye like to trot along with me, boys,” he said 
turning to the lads, and help me run those men 
down? ” 

The boys gladly accepted Bill’s invitation, for they 
had already began to like him very much. 

Sam Ling was the first of the two men to be found. 
Sam was talking in a lively manner to another Chinese. 
He appeared to have said something very comical, for 
his companion was laughing heartily and, as they ap- 
proached, they heard him say : 

“ Sam Ling velly much blight. Tell velly funny 
stolies. Like to be with Sam? ” 

When Sam saw Colorado Bill approach he appar- 
ently detected from the man’s looks that he had been 
successful in finding work, for he said : 

‘‘ Colorado Bill come to say to Sam Ling he find 
good place as guide. Then Sam Ling velly glad. Pel- 
haps,” he added, seeing the boys, Colorado Bill goin’ 
with these senors,” as he called the lads. 

131 


The Land of Drought 

“ Don’t call them sehors, Sam,” said Bill. Ye 
don’t think they be blamed greasers, do ye? They be 
American lads, the best kind of lads on earth. Yes, 
I be goin’ with them. If ye hev not found work, and 
kin come to an arrangement with the men what heads 
this party, I think ye kin find a place as cook.” 

Sam Ling velly glad to go with ’Melican boys. 
Sam Ling good cook. Knows how cook things ’Meli- 
can boys like. Sam Ling good washee. What you 
names?” he said, turning to the boys, whom he had 
been carefully examining all the time he was talking. 

He repeated their names and, as the boys shook 
hands with him, he said: 

‘‘ Sam Ling likes ’Melican boys. No stuckee up. 
Gleat boys. Shakee hands with Sam.” 

It was evident that Sam Ling liked to talk. Point- 
ing to the pistols in Bill’s holster, the Chinese said : 

Cololado Bill gleat shot. Maybe Bill show ’Meli- 
can boys how to shoot. Can ’Melican boys shoot? ” 

‘‘ I can shoot a little,” said Rob; ‘‘ but Happy, here, 
is a wonderful shot.” 

“ So ye heven’t lost the trick of shooting, hev ye, 
kid?” said Colorado Bill in a pleased tone. “Wall, 
when we’re on the road. I’ll larn the rest of ye chaps all 
I kin.” 

They did not find the Indian, Awake-in-the-Night, 
until an hour afterward. At last, however, they saw 
him a short distance outside of the town, talking with 
a number of other Indians, who appeared to be en- 
deavoring to persuade him to do something. 

132 


The Land of Drought 

When Awake-in-the-Night saw Bill and the boys 
approaching, he said something to the other Indians, 
who left him. Then coming toward Bill, he said : 

“ Heap stupid place here. Awake-in-the-Night find 
no work unless he go with Indians,” pointing to the 
men who were still in sight, but were walking rapidly 
away. “ They say, ‘ Awake-in-the-Night, come with 
us. Give you heap work.’ ” 

“And what did ye say?” inquired Colorado Bill, 
as if he had some idea of the kind of work the Indians 
wished him to do. 

“ Awake-in-the-Night say ‘ Come back to-morrow, 
and he’ll say yes or no.’ ” 

“ Do ye think ye would like to work with Colorado 
Bill and Sam Ling fer a party of white men ? ” in- 
quired Bill. 

“ Awake-in-the-Night rather go with Colorado Bill 
and Sam Ling and white people. Awake-in-the-Night 
friend of white people. Many snows ago one white 
man was kind to him. Awake-in-the-Night never for- 
get what white man did for him. When he sees him 
again he will say, ‘ What can Awake-in-the-Night do 
for you? ’ ” 

“ Would you like to go with these three boys and 
two white men?” inquired Bill, observing that the 
Indian had been looking at the lads, “ across the 
desert,” he said, pointing to the northwest. 

“ Awake-in-the-Night likes young white lads. 
Would like to go with the white men. How much 
white men pay?” 


133 


The Land of Drought 

Come and speak with the white men/’ said Bill, 
leading the way. 

Mr. Christian and the professor were so much 
pleased with the appearance of the Chinaman and the 
Indian that they soon reached an agreement, and ar- 
ranged that they should form a part of their party. 


134 


CHAPTER XIII 


On the Colorado Desert 

There is desert land on both sides of the Colorado 
River as far south as the Mexican border and Lower 
California, and as far north as Idaho, and even far- 
ther; for most of the land in the United States be- 
tween the Rocky Mountains and the Sierra-Nevada 
and Cascade Ranges is arid and desert. The desert is 
perhaps most pronounced in California, on the Cali- 
fornia side of the Colorado River, although in south- 
west Arizona, south of the Gila River, the country is 
almost as dry. 

Strictly speaking, the desert land lying on both sides 
of the Colorado River is sometimes known as the 
Colorado Desert. This name, however, is generally 
limited to a district lying in southeastern California, 
southeast of a region known as the Mohave Desert, 
that occupies a depressed area. 

In his book, ‘‘ The Wonders of the Colorado 
Desert,” while alluding to the fact that there are no 
natural boundaries between the Colorado Desert and 
the adjoining country, and that if such boundaries were 
made they would be as artificial and unreal as are par- 
allels of latitude, George Wharton James says: 

For the purpose of this book I have established 
such an arbitrary boundary. Taking the San Gor- 

135 


The Land of Drought 

gonio Pass as the northwest entrance to the Colorado 
Desert, and Mounts San Gorgonio and San Jacinto as 
its northwestern sentinels, I have placed the boundary 
line between San Bernardino and Riverside Counties 
as the northern limit, the Colorado River as the east- 
ern limit, the boundary line between the United States 
and Mexico as the southern limit, and the San Jacinto 
Range, with its southern extensions, going down into 
Mexico, as the western limit. 

From these lines it will be seen that the Colorado 
Desert is confined within the two counties of San 
Diego and Riverside. That it extends beyond the 
Colorado River into Arizona, and also below the 
boundary line into Mexico, all are well aware, but I 
shall practically ignore these extensions in the follow- 
ing pages.” 

We shall make no attempt in this book to give 
strict geographical boundaries to the portions of the 
Colorado Desert that were traversed by Professor En- 
gleman and his party, as they wandered over the coun- 
try in the neighborhood of Yuma, on the western side 
of the Colorado River; for, although these wanderings 
were for some time limited to a portion of southeastern 
California, they afterward covered much of the country 
on the eastern bank of the river, through Arizona and 
the greater part of Utah. Our desire is mainly to 
point out some of the general characteristics of the 
desert area in the southwestern portion of the United 
States. 

When they left Yuma they took a general course 
136 


The Land of Drought 

toward the west. It was not long, therefore, before 
they were in the portion of the Colorado Desert that 
is reached by descending the higher land, on which 
the bed of the Colorado River is situated. 

“ Be careful, boys,” said the professor, to avoid 
the common mistake as to the meaning of the word 
‘ Colorado ’ in the name ' Colorado Desert’ Many 
think that as in the name Grand Canon of Colorado, 
the word Colorado means the State of Colorado, and 
that, therefore, the desert of Colorado, as well as the 
Grand Canon of Colorado, lies mainly in the State of 
Colorado. Now, in both of these places, it is the river 
and not the State that is referred to.” 

It was not long before they reached a depression 
several hundred feet below the level of the ocean, a 
bowl-shaped district hemmed in on all sides, except on 
the south, by mountain walls. It was a magnificent 
place in which to study geology, and both the profes- 
sor and Mr. Christian were ready to help the boys in 
this study. 

“ You would hardly believe, boys,” said Mr. Chris- 
tian, that not so very long ago, at least from a geo- 
logical standpoint, the surface over which we are now 
riding was covered by the waters of the Pacific Ocean ; 
for at this time the Gulf of California not only covered 
this place, but reached much farther to the north.” 

How was a part of the Gulf of California cut off 
from the rest, Mr. Christian? ” inquired Rob. ‘‘ Was 
it by a gradual elevation in the level of a part of the 
land to the south?” 


137 


The Land of Drought 

“ That opinion has been held by some who jump at 
conclusions rather than examine carefully into facts. 
But it cannot be the correct opinion. As you have 
already seen, and will repeatedly see again in passing 
through this region, there are many old sea beaches 
extending around the mountain walls on its margins. 
Now careful measurements, by the barometer, of the 
height of these old ocean beaches show that their level 
is the same as that of the present ocean. There cannot, 
therefore, have been a change of level of the land.” 

If it is not too difficult for us to understand, won’t 
you give us the correct explanation, Mr. Christian ? ” 
asked Rob. 

“ It is not too difficult for bright boys to understand, 
if they are willing to give close attention.” 

I promise to try,” replied Rob earnestly. 

‘‘ And so will we,” said Happy and Norman. 

Listen, then, and I will explain to you what is 
generally believed to be the way in which the Colorado 
River cut off the northern part of the Gulf of Cali- 
fornia from the Pacific. The Colorado River is con- 
stantly bringing down large quantities of sand and 
mud from its upper course. It deposits this material 
to some extent over parts of its bed or channel in its 
lower course, but most of it is thrown down at the 
mouth of the river, in a deposit known as delta. 

‘‘ In a manner which sometimes occurs in small 
rivers that empty on to a shallow sandy coast,” con- 
tinued Mr. Christian, but very seldom in larger 
streams, the Colorado has deposited a part of this 

138 


The Land of Drought 

delta so as completely to cut off a part of the head of 
the Gulf of California from the Pacific, but not to pre- 
vent the river itself from discharging into the lower 
part of the Gulf. 

“ When the place where we stand was covered by a 
beautiful sea of blue water, freely connected with the 
Pacific, the river probably emptied into the ocean not 
directly toward the sea, but in a direction inclined to 
the coast. The deposits of sand and mud thrown down 
were gradually pushed toward the opposite shore of the 
Gulf until a sand dam extended from shore to shore, 
thus completely shutting a part of the Gulf off from 
the ocean.” 

I know a river on the coast of New Jersey, Mr. 
Christian,” exclaimed Rob, that sometimes cuts it- 
self off from the ocean. It is called Shark River. It 
is not much of a river, but rather an arm of the sea 
that is filled on each flood tide and almost completely 
emptied at each ebb tide. The ocean washes in sand 
with the flood tide, depositing it at or near the mouth 
of the river, and carries it back again at ebb tide. 
Constantly tossed between the ocean and the river in- 
let, the material is finally built up as a sand dam that 
completely closes the river. Sometimes the river 
again opens itself, but often the people are obliged to 
dig a small channel across the top of the sand dam, and 
opening it at flood tide permits the river to cut its way 
through the dam and thus empty itself.” 

‘‘An excellent example, Rob,” said Mr. Christian; 
“ although, as you say, this is a small river and not a 

139 


The Land of Drought 

great body of water like the Colorado. Besides,” he 
added, the Colorado deposited a sand dam across a 
part of the Gulf of California, thus shutting it off from 
the rest of the Gulf, but did not shut itself off from the 
lower part. 

BuC coming back to my explanation,” continued 
Mr. Christian, ‘‘ it was in this way that the Colorado 
River shut off a portion of the northern end of the 
Gulf of California, and formed a huge sea of blue 
water. Since the Colorado is the only large river in 
this part of the world, the inland sea thus formed re- 
ceived practically no fresh water. It, therefore, be- 
came salter and salter under exposure to the very hot 
sun in this part of the country, and its level became 
lower and lower. 

That the sea remained for a long time can be seen 
from sand dunes, fifty feet and over in height, that ex- 
tend along parts of the northern borders of the de- 
pression. Just how long this sea existed is not known; 
but before it disappeared, prehistoric man inhabited 
its shores; for on some of the old sea beaches, up in 
the air on the sides of the mountains, one can find 
pieces of rude pottery and stone implements, such as 
axeheads, arrowheads, spearpoints, and agate beads. 
While in some places evidences are found not only 
of cave-dwellers, but also of fortified camps formed by 
squares enclosed by rock-built walls. 

It does not appear,” continued Mr. Christian, “ that 
the drying up of the sea by evaporation continued un- 
interruptedly until all the water had disappeared. As 
140 


The Land of Drought 

is shown by beaches found farther up on the moun- 
tains, it is evident that evaporation ceased and the 
lake began gradually to fill. Just where the water 
came from is unknown, but there is evidence from the 
fossils that, instead of being salter than the ocean, its 
waters were fresher. It may, therefore, have come 
from springs in the bottom of the lake, or it may have 
come from an increased rainfall due to change of 
climate. Most probably, however, it came from the 
Colorado River pouring some of its waters into it 
through breaks in its banks. 

“ I will not attempt to follow the many changes that 
took place in the level of the water in this great inland 
sea. It is enough to say that the lowering of the sur- 
face of the lake by evaporation continued until all the 
water disappeared, and in its place there was left a 
huge bowl-shaped depression that constitutes what is 
called by many the Colorado Desert.” 

Is there any chance of the ocean breaking through 
the sand dam built by the river and thus again flowing 
into this valley?” inquired Rob. 

‘‘ Anything is possible, my lad,” was the reply. “ A 
sudden sinking caused by an earthquake, or by the con- 
traction of the cooling crust, might lower the dam 
enough to let in the ocean. I think, however, it is far 
more likely that the Colorado River will again overflow 
its banks.” 

“If this should happen, Mr. Christian,” remarked 
Happy who, with Norman, had been intently listening 
to all that was said, “ I suppose then the Colorado 

141 


The Land of Drought 

River would fill up this big hole with fresh water.” 

'' What do you think would happen then, my lad ? ” 
inquired Mr. Christian. 

I imagine, sir,” was the reply, the river would 
then flow over the top of the sand dam, cutting it down 
and thus permitting the lake to discharge into the sea 
and the river.” 

“ Quite correct, my lad,” replied Mr. Christian. 

“ Is there any chance,” inquired Norman, ‘‘ of the 
river doing this, sir? ” 

“ It has already done so. As you will be able to see 
for yourself in a few days, when we go farther north, 
an immense body of fresh water, known as the Salton 
Sea, that covers a region many thousands of square 
miles in area, has been formed in this way. But we 
will talk more about that when we reach it.” 

“ That’s a capital description of the great bowl, 
John,” said the professor. 

“I thought .so, Joe,” replied Mr. Christian smiling, 
when I first read it in a book on ‘ The Desert,’ by 
John C. Van Dyke. I have taken most of this descrip- 
tion from this book.” 

Colorado Bill, who had heard the above conversa- 
tion, said to Happy: 

“ Cap knows a lot, don’t he. Hap? You lads ought 
ter pick up a heap of lamin’ while away on the desert.” 

Bill had already changed the name of Ralph to 
Happy, and then, as if believing it not worth while 
to make the exertion necessary for calling him by so 
long a name, had cut it in two. 

142 


The Land of Drought 

They had now been on the desert for several days, 
crossing it in a general northwesterly direction. The 
boys had become better acquainted with the three men, 
and had found something to like in each one. Colo- 
rado Bill especially liked to talk with them, and had 
been giving Norman and Rob many points about ri- 
ding. As to Happy, his friends were as greatly aston- 
ished at the wonderful command he had over his mount 
as they had been at his ability with the rifle and re- 
volver. It surprised them to see the easy manner in 
which he rode his horse, keeping his seat so as to 
avoid irregular bouncing when the horse changed his 
gait. 

As is sometimes the case, when a horse is first 
mounted by a new rider it tries to see how far it dare 
disobey. This Happy’s mount had done the second 
day on the desert. It commenced rearing, bucking, and 
jumping, with the evident intention of throwing Happy 
off. But these efforts were useless. Happy clung to 
its back closer than a brother and, at the same time, 
never lost his temper or whipped the animal, but 
simply spoke to it in a soothing way and firmly held 
the bridle. 

• Colorado Bill chuckled when he saw the occurrence. 
As he afterward told Rob: 

“ I picked out that critter fer him. I knowed he 
could manage any hoss I could find. It’s a splendid 
critter, and now that he hez conquered it he kin do 
a’most anything with it.” 

As Bill had predicted, that fight was the only one 

143 


The Land of Drought 

Happy required in order to conquer his horse. The 
horse had learned that Happy was master. At Bill’s 
suggestion Happy did not wear spurs. He counted on 
getting thoroughly acquainted with his horse and man- 
aging it by word of mouth. Happy always attended 
himself to its grooming, and would occasionally bring 
it things it liked to eat, saw that it always had a good 
drink of water when water was to be had, so that be- 
fore long the animal became so well acquainted with 
him that it would come at either a call or a whistle. 

Rob was a far more apt pupil at riding than Nor- 
man. It seemed at first that Norman would never 
learn to control his mount. Bill had the good sense in 
picking out the horses that had been brought from El 
Paso to select one for Norman that, as he said, “ an old 
woman needn’t a’ fear to ride.” 

Bill also taught Norman and Rob to shoot. As 
might be imagined. Bill was a good shot ; although, as 
he frankly acknowledged, “ he couldn’t touch Hap.” 

In this here case,” he said proudly to the boys one 
day, “ the lamer has got the lead on the feller what 
lamed him.” 

And this was high praise; for Bill was regarded as 
one of the best shots in that part of the country. 

On one afternoon when they had struck camp 
a few hours before sunset, because the only water to 
be had for some distance was in that place, while the 
professor and Mr. Christian were writing out fuller 
notes of the brief jottings they had made in the field. 
Bill and Happy began some fancy stunts in riding. 

144 


The Land of Drought 

When Rob saw the ease with which Happy was able 
to mount and dismount while his horse was going at 
full speed, to ride while standing on the saddle, or to 
pick up things from the hard, level sandy floor of the 
desert while hanging with one foot in the stirrup, he 
began to think of the day in Fairmount Park, re- 
ferred to in the first volume of this book. This was the, 
time Happy had borne up so manfully against the 
loss of his ticket — a ticket for which he had expended 
fifty cents of long carefully husbanded money, to go 
to the circus, and was, therefore, unable to give him- 
self the long-expected treat. 

When Rob thought of this matter, he said to 
himself : 

“ What a splendid jolly fellow Happy is ! Since he 
could shoot and ride so well, he could have enjoyed the 
show at the circus far more than most boys could.” 
He did not let his friends know his thoughts, but 
contented himself with saying to Happy after the ex- 
hibition was over: 

‘‘ I guess your riding is equal to any you would 
have seen on the day you lost your circus ticket, 
Happy, and I found you lying on the bench under a 
tree in Fairmount Park, near the Lincoln Monument.” 

Happy grinned, and was at first apparently dis- 
posed to say nothing; but then, as if thinking the 
matter over, he replied : 

You see, Rob, I was right when I said I was 
lucky. If I had not lost my ticket I might have missed 
you ; failed to have become acquainted with Emil ; lost 

K 145 


The Land of Drought 

the chance of being introduced to Professor Engle- 
man ; of aiding Blavinski ; and, therefore, eventually of 
coming here.” 

As was natural the boys soon formed the habit of 
visiting Sam Ling while he was cooking the food. 
Sam enjoyed talking with any one, but especially with 
the lads, of whom he was becoming very fond. 

“ Sam Ling gleat cook. You think so ? Yes ? Cook 
things ’Melican boys like.” 

Although less demonstrative, Awake-in-the-Night, 
like most Indians, also enjoyed having the boys around 
when he was loading or unloading the burros and ta- 
king care of the horses. He seemed to look with 
pleasure to the time when this work was to be done, 
since the other boys had followed Happy’s example 
of taking care of their horses. Awake-in-the-Night 
taught them many things about horses and burros, and 
at last had become so much attached to the boys, es- 
pecially to Rob, that he was eventually of signal serv- 
ice to him in finding his relatives, as we shall later 
more fully explain. 


146 


CHAPTER XIV 


Camp-fire Stories. Pegleg Smith's Lost 
Gold Mine 

The crossing of a desert, especially one so arid as the 
Colorado Desert, was a new experience to the boys. 
They had heard while in Philadelphia about the dif- 
ferent features of desert land, especially of the high 
temperature of the air. They had been told that Yuma 
was one of the hottest towns in the United States, and 
when they reached it they did not believe any place 
could be hotter. When, however, they came to the 
desert they found that in many places when the wind 
died down and the sun was sending its fierce rays from 
a clear sky, the level stretches of sand became so hot 
that the air coming from them was like the air of a 
furnace and they acknowledged that the desert, as Bill 
remarked, ‘‘ Could see Yuma and go it one better.'' 

Acting under the advice of the professor each of 
the boys had purchased a small thermometer, which he 
carried pinned to the under side of his sombrero. The 
temperature recorded at times by these thermometers 
showed the astounding readings of from 140° to 150° 
F., and, indeed, on one occasion, reached 155° F. 
Sometimes the heat became so intense that they pitched 
camp until toward the end of the afternoon, when it 
became cooler. 


147 


The Land of Drought 

But if the temperature was so high during the mid- 
dle of the day, there was something to look forward to 
at night and in the early morning. With the setting of 
the sun came a change that caused the evening hours 
to be in sharp contrast with the heat of midday. At 
times, when they slept in the open air, with no roof 
over them but the heavens, and no other bedding than 
their blankets, they were glad enough to wrap them- 
selves up tightly, for at times the temperature fell 
below the point of freezing. 

They generally struck camp an hour or so before 
sunset, for they were in no hurry. During this time 
the men and the boys had a jolly time. They then had 
a good chance to talk with Bill, Sam, and Awake-in- 
the Night, or, as they called him for short, “ Wakey.” 
But this was only among themselves; for once, on 
addressing the Indian by this name, he frowned, say- 
ing very gravely : 

“ No called ‘ Wakey.’ Called Awake-in-the-Night.” 

By far the most pleasant part of the day was after 
supper, when they built a camp-fire, generally of mes- 
quite wood, and sat around it telling stories. Every 
one was welcome to the camp-fires when the work for 
the day was done, so that Bill, Sam, and Awake-in-the- 
Night generally joined them. Here stories were told, 
interesting facts related, and jolly songs sung. With 
the exception of Mr. Christian, who had an excellent 
baritone, the vocal ability of the camp was limited to 
the boys. Bill enjoyed hearing what he called “ moo- 
sic,” and so did the Chinaman and the Indian. But 
148 


The Land of Drought 

when carried away by some especially catchy song by 
the boys, as Bill called it they ‘‘ pranced in,” the ef- 
fect produced was far from harmonious. Indeed, the 
rough voice of Bill, the shrill piping squeak of the 
Chinaman, and the guttural grunts of the Indian, 
made a combination that needed only to be heard to 
be never forgotten. 

And then after the camp-fire had been enjoyed, 
spreading his blanket on the smoothest piece of sand 
he could find, each would wrap himself in it, and with 
face turned upward to the sky would keep his eyes 
open for a while, looking at the glorious sight above. 
How wonderfully grand the glories of the desert 
heavens are can only be realized by a personal gazing 
on them. There is a marvelous transparency about 
the air that is found nowhere else, unless on the higher 
slopes of the mountains. One effect of this transpar- 
ency is to cause the stars to shine far more brightly 
than elsewhere and, at the same time, to appear larger 
than ordinarily. Every now and then a meteor darts 
across the heavens, leaving after it a luminous trail. 
It is not surprising, therefore, that they would often 
lie for an hour or more with open eyes looking at the 
glorious sight. But tired nature at last asserts itself, 
and the camp is wrapped in a sleep deeper, and more 
profound and restful, than that which is apt to visit 
the sleeper in the crowded city with its tiresome noises 
and more or less vitiated air; a sleep from which 
the sleepers arise in the early morning with an appe- 
tite that would cause envy in the many thousands who 
149 


The Land of Drought 

never have learned what it is to earn it by plenty of 
exercise followed by sound sleep. 

Many interesting stories were told around the camp- 
fire. As was natural, reference was frequently made 
to the mineral wealth of the desert; especially to the 
rich deposits of silver and gold that are not uncom- 
mon in these portions of the United States. 

Bill was a capital story teller. Although his lan- 
guage was far from being a model, crowded as it was 
with quaint metaphors or similes based on his knowl- 
edge of horses, shooting irons, and of the Western 
cowboys, who were his friends, it lacked neither in- 
terest nor strength or clearness. 

One evening when the conversation had been es- 
pecially concerned with lost gold mines, Rob remarked : 

“ I suppose there are still to be discovered wonder- 
fully rich deposits of gold, that some day or other will 
make a big fortune for the happy one who finds them.” 

“Ye be right thar, my lad,” exclaimed Bill; “but 
ef ye add that thar probably be some of the biggest 
mines that need to be rediskivered ye would be nearer 
the truth.” 

“ How can it be necessary to rediscover a gold mine. 
Bill? ” inquired Norman in surprise. “ It would seem 
that so valuable a thing as a gold mine, when once 
discovered, would become so well known that it would 
be impossible ever afterward to lose it, and thus make 
it necessary to be rediscovered.” 

“ Ye might think so, my lad,” replied Bill, “ but it 
do so happen frequent. Thar probably be either in this 

150 


The Land of Drought 

here desert, or not fur from it, a-many lost gold mines 
that many a feller be tryin’ to rediskiver. Ain’t that so, 
Awake-in-the-Night? ” he said, suddenly turning to 
the Indian. 

The Indian replied in a grunt to Bill : 

“ Indian no say. Has heard of people lookin’ for 
places to dig yellow stones from earth, but he no sure. 
Why you ask me, Bill ? ” he inquired with some little 
warmth. 

‘‘ Wall,” remarked Bill, ye hevn’t got no cause to 
git yer dander up. What do ye say, Sam?” he in- 
quired. “ Hev ye ever heard of lost gold mines in this 
region? ” 

The Chinaman grinned as he replied : 

“ Sam Lung heard tell of gleat gold mine found by 
Hop-e-ty Hop. You know stoly. Bill?” 

Tell us that story of the lost gold mine you were 
speaking about the other day. Bill,” said Happy, “ for 
I suppose Sam means by Hop-e-ty Hop the one-legged 
trapper Smith, and the mine he found and lost.” 

“ I reckon ye mean to ax me to tell about Pegleg 
Smith’s lost gold mine,” said Bill smiling. Wall, I’ll 
do it.” 

The following story, as related by Bill, appeared 
some time ago in the Los Angeles ‘‘ Herald.” The story 
of this gold mine has been handed down for many 
years, and, like all legends, has received so many addi- 
tions or amendments, that the Los Angeles Herald,” 
or any other publication claiming to have first printed 
it would no longer be able to recognize it. Indeed, so 

151 


The Land of Drought 

wonderful have the stories about this mine become 
that, in the opinion of many, the mine never had an 
existence save in the imagination of some Baron Mun- 
chausen, who, in his desire to tell a better or more im- 
probable story than any that had yet been related at 
some mining camp-fire, had framed one out of the 
whole cloth. 

“ Please trot out the story. Bill, about Pegleg 
Smith’s lost mine,” said Happy. 

“ Wall,” said Bill, “ Pll do the best I kin. Ez hez 
already been remarked. Smith hed lost one of his legs 
when he arriv from St. Louis at a trapping camp near 
whar the Colorado River begins. This war in 1836, 
and it is now about sixty-three years ago. So ef thet 
mine hez not yit been found, I reckon we needn’t fret 
ourselves lest any other fellers will git thar afore we 
do. 

‘‘ Pegleg Smith and the fellers he war with fol- 
lowed down the bank of the Colorado till they came to 
whar the Gila River tumbles into it. At this pint they 
crossed the river and made tracks across the desert 
to the west. I don’t need to tell ye what an onery kind 
of country this war, fer ye be in it now. It was a big 
stretch of desert, with no trees like, and no water; at 
least none fer them as did not know whar to look. 

It ’pears that arter they hed been many days in 
the desert things got purty fierce, and they seed thet 
onless they could find water soon it war all up with 
’em. 

As the sun was jist going down they seed in the 

152 


The Land of Drought 

dim light three small mesas to the north, with a deep 
canon, or cut, in the rock leading to one of them. 
Here, they thought to themselves, they might per’aps 
find a spring. 

‘‘ Pegleg Smith went to look. Arter a hard climb 
up the canon he found nary a drop of water. But he 
seed near the top of the canon many loose pieces of 
black rock, with here and thar bits of yellow stuff 
on the ground. Smith warn’t dumb, yit he didn’t 
savvy thet what he hed seed war gold; he thought 
the yaller stuff war only copper. Howsumever, he 
stuck some of it in his pocket and jined his crowd at 
the base of thet hill. Nixt mornin’ they seed a high 
mountain to the northeast, and ez their water war 
nearly all gone, they knowed thet their only chance of 
gettin’ out alive war to reach thet high mountain. 

‘‘ They walked all day. It war only toward night 
they kim to the mountain, whar they found a splendid 
spring of water. Thet mountain war called Smith 
Mountain arter Pegleg, who was fust to diskiver it. 
And it be called Smith Mountain to-day. 

‘‘ Smith war so pleased with not hevin’ hed to hand 
in his chips thet he clean fergot all about the black stuff 
he hed in his pockets. When he arterward reached a 
minin’ camp, and war told thet the pieces war gold, he 
thought as how the miners were fooling him, but when 
he finally struck San Bernardino he diskivered thet it 
whar truly gold. Then his dander riz. He begun, ez 
it war, to kick himself all over a’cause he hed not 
marked out a minin’ claim at thet place, and so spied 

153 


The Land of Drought 

out the lay of the land thet he could go back to it at 
any time easy like. This war in 1836, es I hev al- 
ready said. 

“Ye will per’aps remember thet it war in 1849 
the great discovery of gold war made in Californy, 
and a lot of people kem from purty near over the hull 
world to pick up fortunes. Naterally thar war much 
talk about great finds of gold, so Pegleg Smith got 
some fellers to help him try to rediskiver them three 
mesas, whar gold could be hed fer the shovelin’ of it 
up. 

“ Smith’s party left Los Angeles headin’ southeast 
fer Smith Mountain, with a lot of camping stuff and 
enough food to last on the desert for a long time. 

“ Ez bad luck would hev it, the Indians who hed 
been took along to look arter the supplies, ran off at 
night with most of their eatin’ stuff, so that Smith’s 
crowd hed to turn back again. 

“ Smith war busted by this loss, and left his crowd 
in San Bernardino, and nothin’ war ever arterward 
heerd of him. Whether he ever arterward tried to 
spot out them three mesas and lost his life in the burn- 
in’ sands, I hev never heerd, although I think it 
likely.” 

When Bill stopped speaking there was much talk 
concerning poor Pegleg Smith, when Mr. Christian 
said: 

“ I can tell you another story about this lost mine. 
It is about a ranch known as Warner’s Ranch, on the 
property of Governor Downey. This ranch stretches 

154 


The Land of Drought 

from the foothills below Smith Mountain to the desert 
land on the south. 

“ It appears that every now and then an Indian, 
living on this ranch, would disappear for a while. He 
always left equipped for a long journey. When he 
came back he was loaded with a black mineral sprin- 
kled with gold, that agreed closely with the material 
that Pegleg Smith is said to have found at his lost 
mine. 

While the Indian must have known the value of 
the stuff, he never seemed to care much whether he got 
full pay for it or not. When laughed at for the low 
prices he got for the material, he would only grunt and 
say: 

“ * Heap more where this come from.' 

Many attempts were made to get him to reveal 
his secret, but he was never willing to do so. It was 
known that he always entered the desert by the way 
of the San Felipe Canon, which would lead him in the 
direction of the three mesas described by Pegleg 
Smith. No one was ever able, however, to trace him 
to the place. 

When Governor Downey heard about the Indian, 
he visited his ranch in the hope of learning the secret, 
but before he reached the place the Indian had been 
shot in a quarrel over a game of cards. 

‘‘ The governor did his best to obtain from the In- 
dian's squaw information as to the route taken by her 
brave on these journeys to the desert. Though she did 
not seem to be well posted as to just where the place 

155 


The Land of Drought 

was situated, yet she invariably said that her brave 
left Smith Mountain at the break of day, traveled to- 
ward the sun, and that about three o'clock in the after- 
noon he would come to the place where much gold was 
to be found.” 

'' Do you know any other stories about this mine, 
Mr. Christian?” inquired Happy. 

Yes,” was the reply; ‘‘ according to the same news- 
paper article in the Los Angeles “ Herald,” it seems 
that in i860 a man named McGuire got a party of six 
together in San Francisco to go with him to Pegleg 
Smith’s lost mine. He claimed to have found it, and 
showed a number of gold nuggets to prove the fact. 
He also exhibited certificates of deposit on a San 
Francisco bank of considerable sums of money, that 
he claimed were obtained from the sale of nuggets like 
those he was exhibiting. This party entered the desert 
through the San Felipe Canon, and were never again 
heard from until their bleached bones were found many 
months afterward. 

‘‘ But the stories do not stop here,” continued Mr. 
Christian. “ Some fifteen years afterward, in 1875, 
a prospector was lost while crossing the desert from 
Arizona to California. After wandering for two days 
he saw, far off in the distance, some low-lying hills, 
and at last succeeded in reaching the foot of them. 
Entering a little canon in search of water, he claims 
that he found a number of black nuggets. He believed 
they were gold; but just then he must either obtain 
water or perish, so descending to the desert he man- 

156 


The Land of Drought 

aged to climb Smith Mountain, where he found 
springs, and thus saved his life. 

‘‘ When he reached Los Angeles he organized an 
expedition to return with him to the desert, but his 
previous sufferings had been so severe that he was 
taken with a mortal illness, and being assured by his 
physician, a Doctor De Courcey, that he could not live, 
told the doctor about his discovery, and placing some 
two thousand dollars^ worth of gold nuggets in his 
hand, said that he had picked them up during the short 
time he had remained on the top of the hill. After this 
man’s death, De Courcey made several unsuccessful 
attempts to find the lost treasure, but he too died.” 

“ Do you think there is any truth in these stories, 
professor ? ” inquired Rob. 

“ That is hard to say,” was the reply. “ There have 
been so many accounts of Pegleg Smith’s mine, that 
it would seem there must be some truth in them. 
Much of the country between the Colorado Desert and 
the sea contains deposits of gold. I think it probable 
that gold may exist here in such quantities as to 
equal, if not exceed, the immense treasure Pegleg 
Smith claimed to have discovered. I can readily be- 
lieve, however, that many of the stories about his lost 
gold mine have no other foundation than the fancies 
of the people who told them.” 

‘‘ There’s no reason why we should not keep our 
eyes open while crossing the desert,” said Rob. It 
might be that we can either rediscover Pegleg Smith’s 
mine, or even a greater one.” 

157 


The Land of Drought 

‘‘ There’s no objection whatever to your looking,” 
said the professor ; “ but I would not advise you to 
count too much on success.” 

‘‘ Keep a-looking, my lads,” said Bill, speaking to 
all of them, ye kin niver tell when ye might find 
something big.” 


158 


CHAPTER XV 


The Real Treasure of the Desert 

The camp-fire had been left to burn itself out. Every 
one was in deep sleep except Rob and Happy, who 
were lying side by side on their blankets. The silence 
of the desert enfolded them with its absolute soundless- 
ness. 

Even during the day the silence on the banks of the 
Colorado River, in its lower course, is so marked, ex- 
cept during times of flood, that the great stream is 
known as the Silent River. No rapids are heard, and 
there are no murmurings of its waters as the great 
stream drags itself wearily along, as if exhausted by 
the load of sand and mud it is bearing to the gulf. 

Over both river and desert the squawk of the blue 
heron, or the cry of the bittern, is only occasionally 
heard. Even less frequently comes the fierce roar of 
the mountain lion, a sound that almost instantly stops 
the occasional snarl of the coyote, or the cries of other 
animals. The silence of the desert is deep almost as the 
realms of death. 

The wind had completely died away. Suddenly a 
faint breeze came from the northeast, and a dull mur- 
muring sound was heard. 

“ Do you hear that, Rob ? ” exclaimed Happy. 

“Yes; what do suppose it is?’’ 

159 


The Land of Drought 

‘‘ I don’t know,” was the reply. Listen.” 

The murmuring sounds varied in intensity with the 
strength of the wind. At times they died away com- 
pletely, and then suddenly increased in volume. 

“ From what direction do you think the sounds 
come, Rob?” inquired Happy. 

From over there,” was the reply, pointing toward 
the left. “ Don’t you think so ? ” 

“ No; I think it comes from the right,” said Happy. 

But it did not take the boys long to find that the 
sounds came from both right and left; and, indeed, 
soon Happy reached the following conclusion : 

‘‘ They come from all around us, Rob,” he said. 

“ Shall we call the rest? ” inquired Rob. 

‘‘ Not yet,” said Happy. “ If it is nothing to be 
alarmed at they will have the laugh on us. Let’s listen 
for a while.” 

As a result of the listening. Happy began to laugh, 
although quietly. 

‘‘ What’s the matter now? ” said Rob. 

I’m laughing at the way we have been fooled. Of 
course the sounds come from all around, for they are 
caused by the wind rubbing the grains of sand against 
one another.” 

‘‘You’re right, Happy,” said Rob. “The sands 
are something like the ringing, or the singing sands 
you told those stories about the day we went on that 
excursion to Atlantic City.” 

Now that their attention was called to the cause 
of the sounds, and they were lying on the sand, they 
i6o 


The Land of Drought 

fancied they could see the particles being moved over 
one another by the wind. While they may have been 
deceived in this, there was no doubt that the direction 
from which the strongest sounds came varied as the 
shifting winds, every now and then, would strike more 
directly on some parts of the sands than on others. 

Having thus convinced themselves that there was 
nothing in the sounds to occasion alarm, and pleased 
that they had not let the camp get the laugh on them 
by so common a phenomenon, they lay quietly talking 
to one another, until at last they joined in the deep 
sleep of the rest of the camp. 

Next morning, speaking about what they heard, the 
professor said : 

“ The sounds you heard were caused by the wind 
rubbing the grains of sand against one another. By 
the way,’’ he added, placing a small pinch of sand in 
his hand and examining the separate grains under a 
small pocket magnifying-glass, “ these are grains worth 
looking at.” Before long each of the boys was care- 
fully examining the sand for himself ; for each had pro- 
vided himself with a small magnifying-glass. 

What they saw was to them very remarkable; al- 
though, as they afterward found, sands of this char- 
acter were common in the sand hills. The separate 
grains, instead of being sharp and angular, had been 
rounded to almost perfect spheres; the rubbings to 
which they had been subjected having so worn off the 
corners. 

Nor were the separate spherical particles only grains 

L i6i 


The Land of Drought 

of ordinary sand. Besides spheres of quartz, there were 
others — of garnet, agate, and many other hard min- 
erals. Some were almost transparent, while others were 
translucent. 

“ You can understand how easily,” said the profes- 
sor, “ such grains, rolled over one another by the 
winds, could produce murmuring sounds.” 

“ Why are not sounds produced in this way in other 
parts of the world ? ” inquired Norman. 

‘‘ They frequently are,” was the reply ; “ but it is 
only in the deep silence of the desert that they are apt 
to be heard. Then again,” he added, “ most of the 
sands of the ocean cannot easily roll over one another 
on account of their angular shapes. Moreover, the 
sands here are clean and free from dust ; for the winds 
have exerted a screening action on the particles, so that 
you will find, as in this case, the separate grains are 
more or less of the same size.” 

When Awake-in-the-Night heard the boys talking 
about the sounds heard in the sands, he said : 

“ The sounds are the voices of the spirits of the 
dead, bidding the white men leave the gold of the 
desert in peace and touch it not.” 

With the camp-fire stories about the Pegleg Smith 
lost gold mine still fresh in his memory, as they were 
leaving the camp for that morning, Norman said : 

Uncle Joseph, do you think we shall find any 
treasure in the desert ? ” 

‘‘ I am certain of it,” was the reply. ‘‘ Indeed, I 
think we shall find such a treasure about noon to-day. 

162 


The Land of Drought 

Don’t you agree with me, John?” he added, turning 
to his friend and winking. 

Yes, Joe,” said Mr. Christian. I think we shall 
then be approaching the outskirts of Imperial Valley.” 

“ Are you in earnest, uncle ? ” inquired Norman. 

I am,” was the reply. 

So far they had been able each night to camp either 
at a spring or well of water, or at a water-hole. Al- 
though in the last the water frequently was either 
brackish or salty, or often contained small quantities 
of alkali, that gave it a disagreeable taste, yet they 
soon forgot that by reason of their thirst, when, as 
was often the case, the successive water-holes, or 
springs, were so far apart, that even with the compara- 
tively large supply they carried on the pack burros, 
they would reach the next hole so thirsty that almost 
any kind of water was pleasant. 

The boys pondered deeply over what the professor 
had told them, and kept on the outlook to see which 
would be the first to understand what he had said. As 
they continued toward the southwest they noticed a 
change in the character of the country. It was be- 
ginning to show signs -of fertility; for vegetation of 
different kinds became visible, until the desert land was 
replaced by cultivated fields almost ready for the har- 
vest. At last they reached an irrigation canal that 
was carrying a stream of clear water and distributing 
it over some of the fields through small channels. The 
direction taken by the water over the surface might 
easily be traced by a vigorous vegetable growth. 

163 


The Land of Drought 

Here, Norman,’’ said the professor, pointing to 
the canal and the slender stream it was feeding, “ we 
have found, as I felt sure we would, the true treasure 
of the desert. Do you see what I mean. Happy? ” he 
said, turning to that lad. 

I understand, sir,” was the reply. Water is 
more valuable in the desert than either gold or silver.” 

“ Don’t you know what makes the land of the desert 
so barren, Norman? ” asked the professor. 

“ I guess there is something in the soil that prevents 
plants from growing,” was the reply. ‘‘ Perhaps there 
are no seeds. I think too, that water has much to do 
with it.” And then thinking for a moment, he added : 
“ I think I understand now what you mean. It is the 
want of water that is one of the principal causes of the 
desert.” 

“ Not one of the principal causes, Norman, but the 
only cause. No kind of soil can cause a country to re- 
main a desert that receives a sufficient rainfall; for, 
while too much alkali or salt will prevent the exist- 
ence of vegetable life, in a short time these materials 
will be washed out of the soil, if the rain is sufficient in 
amount. That k is the absence of water that is the sole 
cause of the desert is seen from the fact that when a 
well is dug in the desert, or when water is brought to 
it by an irrigation canal, vegetation almost imme- 
diately appears. Even the scant rainfall is followed al- 
most immediately by a covering of vegetable growth.” 

‘‘Where do the seeds come from, professor?” in- 
quired Happy. 


164 


The Land of Drought 

‘‘ Some are spread over the surface by the winds, 
and some are brought by animals,” was the reply. “ I 
imagine, however, that most of them have been in the 
ground for a long, long time, and spring up only 
when the life-giving water appears.” 

“ One would hardly think the seeds would keep 
alive for so long a time, professor,” remarked Rob. 

‘‘If the seeds are only kept dry, they will preserve 
their vitality for an almost indefinite time,” replied the 
professor. “ You have probably heard that when some 
of the Egyptian mummies are unwrapped, grains of 
corn are found that had evidently been placed in be- 
tween the folds of the cloth as a symbol of a future 
life. Although the mummies are many thousands of 
years old, when this corn was afterward planted and 
supplied with the necessary moisture and light, it is 
said that it germinated and awoke even after so many 
thousand years of apparent death.” 

As they advanced farther into the irrigated district 
and saw the wonderful crops of all kinds of vegetables 
and fruits, they were able the better to understand 
what the professor meant when he said it was the 
water of the desert that formed its true treasure. The 
land was teeming with productions of all kinds, though 
differing in no respect from the arid desert lands over 
which they had been passing, except in having a co- 
pious supply of water. 

At last they reached a portion of the main irriga- 
tion canal. A large stream of water was flowing 
through it with sufficient rapidity to cause it to give 

165 


The Land of Drought 

forth that murmuring sound so attractive to all, and 
especially to those fond of swimming. 

A swim in the desert certainly possesses peculiar 
charms. When Mr. Christian, turning to the profes- 
sor, said : 

“ Let’s stop awhile, Joe, and give the boys a chance 
for a swim. Would you like a swim, boys? ” 

Actions speak louder than words. In an almost in- 
credibly short space of time the answer came in the 
shape of three undressed boys, who had plunged into 
the water and were enjoying a swim to the full limit. 
This enjoyment was so evident that the boys were 
joined by Mr. Christian and the professor. 

As for Colorado Bill and the other men, they simply 
looked on the sport. 

Where they entered the canal the water flowed over 
a stretch of coarse sand. It seemed to them that a 
great loss of water would take place because of its 
sinking through the porous, sandy soil. On asking 
Mr. Christian whether this was so, he replied : 

‘‘ At first the loss must of course be great, but the 
water here is slightly alkaline, so that a film of an in- 
soluble alkaline salt is soon deposited on the surface 
that stops most of the leakage.” 

They were now in a country containing numerous 
cultivated tracts, consisting of small ranches, farms, 
vineyards, etc. Among the products were to be found 
figs, dates, apricots, pomegranates, oranges, and other 
tropical fruits, and also grapes, equaling those raised 
in any part of the world. Besides this, there were the 
1 66 


The Land of Drought 

ordinary vegetables of the warm temperate zones, only 
of greater size and in better condition. Among these 
were sweet and white potatoes, onions, beets, as- 
paragus, tomatoes, and eggplants. What especially 
attracted their attention were watermelons and can- 
taloups. The glories of a ripe, sweet, juicy water- 
melon are thoroughly appreciated in the United States 
by others than by the black race, nor were cantaloups 
to be disregarded. I shall not attempt to describe the 
treat they had when, at the expenditure of a compara- 
tively small sum, they purchased a supply of these 
luscious fruits. 

There was one crop that especially attracted their 
attention. This was alfalfa, a plant that has been 
correctly called the “ queen of desert-forage plants.” 
It is even more nutritious than clover and, like clover, 
enriches the soil for other crops by the power it has 
of collecting nitrogen from the atmosphere. When 
supplied with an abundance of moisture it can grow 
in a great variety of soils, even in those containing 
fairly large quantities of alkali. The amount of al- 
falfa that can be raised on an acre of land almost 
passes belief. Under favorable conditions a number of 
successive crops can be raised each year. 

There are several thriving towns in the Imperial 
Valley. The principal of these are Imperial, Brawley, 
Holtville, Heber, and El Centro. 

They passed the night on a ranch of an acquaintance 
of Mr. Christian. This gentleman gave them some in- 
teresting facts concerning the method adopted by the 

167 


The Land of Drought 

growers in marketing their fruits and vegetables. An 
association has been formed whereby the crops, es- 
pecially the cantaloups, are packed and shipped in re- 
frigerator cars to the principal cities of the United 
States, and the money so obtained divided among the 
people according to their shipments. Some of the 
large cities receiving these goods are Chicago, New 
York, Philadelphia, Boston, Pittsburgh, Kansas City, 
Omaha, Portland, Ore., Butte, Seattle, Spokane, Salt 
Lake City, and San Francisco. 

Their host gave them much interesting information 
concerning the manner in which the water supply for 
irrigation is drawn from the Colorado River, and also 
an account of a grave danger that once threatened the 
settlement from the accidental breaking of the river 
through its embankment, and the discharge for a short 
time of the entire flow through the old channels of the 
New and Alamo Rivers. 


1 68 


CHAPTER XVI 


Lost Among the Sand Hills 

Errors in judgment as to distances are common on the 
desert, and these errors are not only made by those 
to whom the desert is new and strange, but often by 
those accustomed to it. There is such a wonderful 
transparency of the air that the mountains and other 
distant objects stand out with a distinctness of detail 
that often causes grave mistakes as to their actual 
location. It is especially in the early morning, when 
there is little or no flying sand and haze, and no quiver- 
ing in the air due to intense heat, that distant objects 
appear to be close at hand. 

This deceptiveness as to distance has led many inex- 
perienced travelers to their death. Even old pros- 
pectors, who have spent much of their lives on the 
desert, are at times apt to be so deceived. To those to 
whom the desert is as yet unknown, a butte, or mesa, 
they may be observing stands out so sharply against 
the sky line that they are sure it cannot be more 
than a few miles away; those arroyas, or deep gulleys, 
that are seen so distinctly on the slopes, probably 
contain water. Our water supply, they reason, is low, 
and the next water-hole is far off. Surely it will be the 
better policy to seek for water in those near-by hills. 
The attempt is made. Although their progress to- 
169 


The Land of Drought 

ward the distant hills is rapid, yet hour after hour does 
not seem to bring them any nearer. Even when the 
sun is overhead they are still far off. The water 
supply is so low they dare not, or at least they believe 
they dare not, retrace their steps, so they keep onward. 
The night falls and still the distinct hills appear as far 
off as ever, and so they keep on until, too often, their 
bleached bones tell the story of the frightful price paid 
for an error in judgment. 

The intense heat of the desert must be experienced 
before it can be understood. When people from other 
parts of the country, especially from the eastern sea- 
board, read of the high temperature the air of the 
desert reaches toward the middle of a summer’s day, 
sometimes they are apt, unwarrantably, to conclude 
that some mistake must have been made. They know 
from experience that when the thermometer in the East 
is only around 90° or 95° F. in the shade, death by 
sunstroke is common. They argue, therefore, that it 
would be impossible for any one to live even for a 
short time exposed to heat so much more direct and 
intense. 

One day when the air had been unusually hot, Nor- 
man was greatly surprised on examining his ther- 
mometer. 

Look at my thermometer, Rob,” he said. “ There 
must be something wrong here.” 

What makes you think so ? ” inquired Rob. 

Because the mercury is so high. See, it’s at 
170 


The Land of Drought 

150° F. What does yours say, Rob? I would like to 
know how much mine is off.” 

Rob examined his instrument, and said in a sur- 
prised voice : 

“ I guess yours is right. Mine stands at the same.” 

And so does mine,” said Happy, who had heard 
the above conversation. “ But what surprises you, 
Norman? ” 

“ I don’t see how the air can be as hot as the ther- 
mometer says,” was the reply. “ If it was, how could 
I feel as comfortable as I do? Why, in Philadelphia, 
when the thermometer is only 85° or 90° F., I have 
felt far more tired and done up than I do now. I 
wonder what’s the reason ? ” 

“ One reason is probably because you’re in better 
health,” replied Happy. 

“ I am in better health, all right,” was the reply. 
‘‘ But I don’t think that is the only reason. Suppose 
we ask ? ” he added. 

'' Why is it. Uncle Joseph,” he inquired at the first 
opportunity, I don’t feel the heat more in this hot 
air? Why don’t my insides get heated so as to make 
me feel uncomfortable ? ” 

‘‘What do you mean by your insides?” inquired 
the professor smiling. 

I mean my flesh, nerves, and blood,” was the re- 

ply. 

“ I’ll try to explain this matter to you,” said the 
professor. “ When a person is in good health the 
temperature of what Norman calls his insides is some- 
171 


The Land of Drought 

thing in the neighborhood of 99° F. Sometimes, dur- 
ing sickness, this temperature may rise as high as 101° 
or 102° F., in which case the body is said to be in a 
feverish condition. It may even reach 104° or 106° F. 
If, however, this higher temperature is permitted to 
continue for any considerable time, death almost invari- 
ably results.” 

‘‘ That’s just what’s troubling us, uncle,” exclaimed 
Norman. ‘‘We have been looking at our thermome- 
ters and find the air is very hot, 150° F. Now, how 
is it that we can stand this heat so well ; for none of us 
feels it to any extent? ” 

“ It is because the desert air is so dry and free from 
moisture,” said the professor. 

“ I have often heard people talking about hot air 
being so dangerous because of the great humidity, 
but I have never been able to understand just what that 
means,” said Rob. 

“ It is very simple, Rob,” said the professor. “ For- 
tunately for us, heat cannot easily pass from the air into 
our bodies. When it attempts to do this a healthy body 
protects itself by throwing a film of perspiration to the 
surface. Instead of passing into the body, the heat is 
expended in changing this film into vapor. In this 
way the body remains fairly cool, but at the same time 
loses much of its moisture.” 

“ Now I can understand,” said Happy smiling, “ why 
I drink so much water here in the desert. On hot 
days I drink so much and so often that I empty my 
canteen several times a day.” 

172 


The Land of Drought 

■ “ That’s the reason,” said the professor. You 
grow thirsty because the water in your blood and other 
tissues dries up so rapidly at the surface of the body.” 

“ There is another reason for your feeling so well 
and comfortable at times,” said Mr. Christian. You 
know how exceedingly pleasant the air is in the early 
morning. It almost makes one feel as if he had been 
drinking a glass of champagne.” 

‘‘You are right, John,” said the professor. “The 
morning air sometimes makes me feel as if I had had a 
cocktail.” 

“ One could safely drink many desert cocktails, 
could he not, Mr. Christian ? ” said Rob playfully. 

“ One might think so, Robert,” was the reply; “ yet 
I’ve known people to be so exhilarated on awakening 
in the morning, after a long, comfortable night’s rest 
when they drank desert cocktail after desert cocktail, 
that they believed they could safely travel almost any 
distance without ever again becoming tired. It some- 
times happens that such people, having in this way lost 
command over themselves — lost it almost as thoroughly 
as if they were drunk — foolishly attempt to cover dis- 
tances that results in their dying on the desert.” 

The beautiful spherical shape of the separate grains 
of sand, the murmuring sands referred to in a pre- 
vious chapter, led the boys frequently to examine dif- 
ferent sand deposits. 

One morning, after a comfortable night’s sleep, the 
three boys were awake long before any of the others 

173 


The Land of Drought 

were stirring. Feeling thirsty they got up, and dress- 
ing, put on their water canteens and went to fill them 
from the water-hole alongside of which they had 
camped. It was one of those mornings about which 
they had been talking on the previous night. The 
air was so cool and exhilarating that they felt as if 
they could easily walk almost any distance. Their 
camp for the night had been pitched near a great 
sweep of sand hills; for they had left the Imperial Val- 
ley and had crossed the desert for some distance to- 
ward the northwest. 

Let’s take a short walk among the sand hills and 
see if we can find some different kinds of sand,” said 
Norman, pointing to a number of unusually high hills, 
seemingly about half a mile from camp. 

“ I think we had better go back for our rifles,” said 
Happy. “ Don’t you think so, Rob? ” 

‘‘ I hardly think it necessary,” was the reply. ‘‘ We 
do not expect to be gone but for a very short time. At 
the most, I suppose, no longer than it will take Sam to 
get breakfast ready.” 

The professor, Mr. Christian, and Colorado Bill had 
repeatedly cautioned the boys about wandering from 
camp. But, somehow or other, they felt in such splen- 
did condition that it did not seem there could possibly 
be any danger in going this short distance. Surely by 
keeping the camp in sight there should be no difficulty 
in returning to it whenever they wished. They started, 
therefore, on what came near being the last walk they 
ever took. 


174 


The Land of Drought 

There was plenty to see. While most of the sand 
was of the same color, a light buff or reddish-yellow, 
still here and there were little colored patches where 
the sand had been sorted out by the wind according 
to differences in specific gravities. The time passed 
rapidly in selecting specimens consisting almost en- 
tirely of garnets, agates, etc. 

The shapes of the sand hills especially attracted their 
attention. The winds had heaped the sand up in hills, 
or mounds, of varying sizes and shapes. Climbing to 
the tops of the hills and down to the opposite sides, 
the sight of the camp was soon shut off entirely. Some 
of the hills climbed were fifty and even sixty feet in 
height, and were surrounded by numerous smaller 
hills. 

They felt so much like walking, there was so much 
to be seen, and they were so continually finding more 
and more curious specimens, that unconsciously they 
wandered a long distance from camp. The name Su- 
perstition Mountain had been given by the Indians 
to the hills by which they had camped, by reason of 
the fact that the hills, or peaks, of the mountain masses 
of each were frequently changing both in size and po- 
sition. 

Happy had become anxious. He feared they were 
getting too far from camp, and knew the dangers 
to which they would be exposed should they lose their 
way. He therefore advised Rob on several occasions 
to turn back. 

Why, there’s no danger. Happy,” said Rob. 

175 


The Land of Drought 

Look how distinct our footsteps are. We will have 
no trouble finding our way back by following them.” 

Happy had great confidence in Rob’s judgment, so 
he permitted himself to be convinced. 

There was practically no wind blowing when they 
left the camp. But after they had gone a few miles it 
commenced blowing, feebly at first, but afterward in 
strong spurts, until finally it was blowing steadily and 
strong. As it increased in strength the air became 
filled with small particles of sand, producing a haze 
that made it difficult to see objects at any distance. 

Happy again urged his companions to return. 

“ Come, Rob,” he said, “ let’s start back to camp. It 
is very dangerous to stay here with this wind blowing 
as it is.” 

All right,” was the reply. “ I am ready. In what 
direction do you think the camp is. Happy? ” 

“ I am not pertain,” was the reply, “ but I think it 
was in this direction,” he said, pointing to the right of 
the position in which they were standing. “ Don’t you 
think so? ” 

“ No,” said Rob ; ‘‘ I think it was off there,” pointing 
to the left. “ What do you think, Norman? ” 

“ I don’t think either of you is right,” was the reply. 
“ I believe it lies off there,” pointing in an entirely dif- 
ferent direction. 

“ Oh, well,” said Rob, “ we have only to follow our 
footsteps. There will be no trouble in finding our way 
back.” 

But the fine sand blown by the wind had completely 
176 



“ ‘ No,’ said Rob, ‘ I think it is off there. 
What do you think, Norman? ’ ” 

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The Land of Drought 

covered their tracks and, although they searched care- 
fully, they were unable to find the faintest traces. 

Clouds of sand were now blowing into their faces, 
striking them with sharp, stinging blows. Even had 
their footprints been left it would have been difficult 
to follow them. So they continued walking without 
determining the direction of the camp, shouting them- 
selves hoarse in an effort to make themselves heard. 

All this time the sun was slowly mounting in the 
heavens. When about overhead the air v/as so hot that 
their thermometers again marked 150° F. The hot 
air, and the exertion they had been making to find 
their way to camp, were rapidly exhausting them. 

“ Let us keep together,” said Happy ; “ we might 
easily lose our lives should we get separated. If a fel- 
low should lose consciousness for a few moments only 
he would soon be smothered by the sand ; ” for the wind 
was now blowing the sand in such quantities that when 
they stopped to rest, as they did occasionally, it began 
to pile up around them. The fine sand in the air set- 
tled in their throats and nostrils, clogging them and 
making breathing difficult. 

At last Norman was so exhausted that he believed it 
impossible to go any farther. 

‘‘ Don’t wait for me,” he said, sitting down. ‘‘ I’ll 
follow you afterward. I’ll have to rest awhile.” 

“ What ! ” cried his friends indignantly. ‘‘ Leave 
you alone ! What do you take us for? We’ll stop with 
you and give you a chance to pick up, and then we’ll all 
go on together.” 

M 


177 


The Land of Drought 

This they did several times, when at last Rob be- 
gan to give out. Seeing this, Happy said : 

“We must rest here till the sun goes down. Then I 
can find my way back by the stars.” 

It was by no means a novel proposition of Happy’s 
when he spoke of finding his way to the camp by the 
stars. It is a common expedient in these parts of the 
world. Indeed, Happy had often practised it while 
on the ranch in Texas. Moreover, both the professor 
and Mr. Christian had given the boys simple instruc- 
tions as to how to determine direction in this way. 

Acting under Happy’s advice they sat down on the 
sand, and taking off their jackets placed them over their 
heads. 

“ Breathe only through your nostrils,” said Happy. 
“ It will come hard at first, I know.” 

It was hard work. The heat of the air was nearly 
stifling, and when covered, even by the light cloth of 
their jackets, became almost unbearable. In order to 
avoid being completely buried in the sand, they were 
obliged to rise every now and then, shake the sand off, 
and again sit down. 

It was, indeed, fortunate that each had filled his 
canteen that morning before starting on their walk. 
Otherwise they would have miserably perished. 

The weary hours passed slowly. At last the sun sank 
in the west, and the stars began to glow in the blue 
vault above them. Obtaining now his direction. Happy 
had no difficulty in leading them back to camp, which 
they reached a few hours after sunset. 

178 


The Land of Drought 

It is unnecessary to say that their companions at the 
camp had been greatly alarmed when the boys were 
missed that morning. Although, in reality, much wor- 
ried, Colorado Bill tried to convince his companions 
that the danger was not so great as they feared. 

‘‘We must sarch fer them lads fer sartin; fer, ef 
they hev got lost among them sand hills, they may have 
a close call fer their lives. But then don’t fergit thet 
chap Happy is with ’em. He is a bright lad, and I 
reckon he’ll bring them back all right.” 

“ What do you think the lads are doing. Bill ? ” in- 
quired the professor. 

“ I reckon,” said Bill, “ they are lost among them 
sand hills and hev tried to return. As soon as a bright 
lad like Hap sees how hard thet be, he hez got ’em to 
sit down and wait fer the stars to come out, when I 
know he kin easily find his way here. Him and me 
hev done this often when on thet ranch in Texas.” 

As the almost exhausted boys crept into camp they 
were given a rousing reception. Sam had been busy- 
ing himself in preparing something especially good for 
them should they ever return. Awake-in-the-Night 
appeared to look on the occurrence as something that 
might have been expected from the anger of the spirits 
of the sand hills. 

“ Spirits punish white lads for tryin’ to find yellow 
stones.” 


179 


CHAPTER XVII 


The Salton Sea 

It is not surprising that travelers crossing the Colo- 
rado Desert, where again and again they have been 
deceived by the well-known mirage that apparently 
turns the level sands of the desert into a great body 
of water, should, when they see before them a real 
lake, believe that what they see is due to the heated 
condition of the atmosphere, and, like all such phe- 
nomena, will fade away when they attempt to reach its 
shores. But this is only another of the many surprises 
the desert is constantly springing on its visitors. Here 
the surprise consists in the discovery that the lake 
on which they are looking is a real lake, and not a lake 
of the imagination. 

A great body of fresh water has collected in the 
northern part of the great empty bowl that had been 
left on the drying up of the waters of a part of the 
Gulf of California. It is the Colorado River that has 
cut off the northern part of this Gulf from the rest, and 
it is also this river that has afterward filled the lake 
by cutting through a part of its banks near Yuma, and 
flowing through the old deserted channels of the New 
and Alamo Rivers. The body of water that surprises so 
many travelers when they reach this part of the desert 
is known as the Salton Sea, a name that appears in 
i8o 


The Land of Drought 

many cases to have given rise to the idea that it is a salt 
and not a fresh body of water. 

The gentleman at whose ranch our party had 
stopped, while passing through the irrigated lands of 
Imperial Valley, told them some interesting stories as 
to how the irrigation of this portion of the desert, ef- 
fected mainly by bringing water from the Alamo and 
New Rivers through irrigation canals, had turned the 
desert into a flowing Eden. He told them that the fer- 
tility of the irrigated lands had been so great, the num- 
ber of settlers so rapidly increased, and the demand for 
water had become so extensive, that in an effort to 
meet the demand a great calamity had taken place, 
which at one time threatened to wipe out all the im- 
provements in this part of the desert. 

The threatened danger came from an excessive 
quantity of water flowing through one of the intakes 
that had been cut for obtaining an additional flow into 
a new channel. This channel, enlarged by the running 
water, had permitted the passage of a quantity of water 
that was soon beyond their ability to control. In June, 
1906, the overflow had accumulated in a lake or sea, 
the Salton Sea, a body of fresh water, that about that 
time was in the neighborhood of forty miles in length, 
and from twenty to twenty-five miles in width. It is 
impracticable, however, to attempt to give exact figures 
of the size of the sea at the present time. The dis- 
astrous floods may repeat themselves. Indeed, a time 
may come when the overflow of the river, occurring 
during an unusual rainfall, may sweep away all bar- 
181 


The Land of Drought 

riers, and the waters discharging themselves wholly 
through the intake channel, may fill again all the great 
bowl of the Colorado Desert. 

Our party had been encamped on the shores of the 
Salton Sea for two days, and had excellent opportuni- 
ties for examining this great body of water. During 
their stay the professor and Mr. Christian had given the 
boys many interesting facts concerning its formation. 
This had been done not on their various excursions, but 
by the camp-fire at night. 

“ The surface where you now see the waters of the 
Salton Sea,” they said, “ had been for many years a 
dry, salty basin. As early as 1857, a geologist, who 
had been making an examination of the mud volca- 
noes of the neighborhood, described the existence of a 
vast plain of crystallized chloride of sodium, or com- 
mon table salt, together with a lake in its neighbor- 
hood that was apparently increasing in size from the 
overflow of a river, known as the New River, a small 
arm of the Colorado. 

“ There was an extremely valuable bed of rock salt 
in the neighborhood of this old lake,” contined the pro- 
fessor. This bed had evidently been deposited on 
the evaporation of the water of the northern part of 
the Gulf of California when cut off from the lower 
part. Although it contained the substances that are 
dissolved in ordinary sea-water, it was, nevertheless, 
unusually rich in chloride of sodium. Indeed, so rich 
was this bed, that of a total of one hundred per cent, 
of salty substances, the amount of table salt was as 
182 


The Land of Drought 

high as ninety-five to ninety-seven per cent. It was 
only necessary, therefore, to collect the salt, place it in 
bags, and send it to the market.” 

How did they get the salt, Uncle Joseph ? ” in- 
quired Norman. Did they dig it with spades and 
pick-axes ? ” 

It was collected in a much simpler manner,” was 
the reply. “ Plows were employed to cut, in the salty 
plain, furrows eight feet wide and six inches deep. 
Each plow could harvest over one hundred tons of 
salt every day. A tram railway carried the material to 
a place where it was ground, placed in bags, and for- 
warded to the market. You can understand how valu- 
able these deposits were, since the material brought 
from six to thirty-six dollars a ton, according to its 
purity. The company, known as the Liverpool Salt 
Company, made considerable money, and, together, 
with other competing companies, invested largely in 
this part of the desert. 

It seems,” said the professor, that variations in 
the size of the Salton Sea, during different years, were 
of common occurrence. When no money was invested 
in the desert, as is now the case with the Liverpool 
Salt Company and the still larger investments in Im- 
perial Valley, an increase in the area of the lake caused 
no uneasiness. Being a desert country, it made no dif- 
ference how large the lake might grow. But now con- 
siderable money had been invested, so that breaks in 
the banks of the Colorado occasioned grave alarm. 

“ Without attempting to enter into a minute history 
183 


The Land of Drought 

of the successive inundations of the Colorado,” con- 
tinued the professor, it is enough to say that when, 
on June 23, 1891, an unusual quantity of water was 
flowing into the Salton Sea, it was found, by examina- 
tion, that this water was due to a break in the banks 
of the Colorado River below Yuma. The break, how- 
ever, was stopped, and it was believed that the danger 
had passed. 

“ In 1905 a much more serious break occurred. The 
success of the irrigation of the Imperial Valley had 
been so great that the number of farms and ranches 
that were taken up increased rapidly. The quantity of 
water the irrigation company was able to supply soon 
became far less than what was called for. Indeed, the 
deficit was so marked that crops failed for want of 
water and great distress resulted. The demand for 
water became so great that the irrigation company was 
troubled to supply it, and adopted a number of expe- 
dients which, however, were in the main unsatisfactory. 
One of these consisted in cutting an additional opening 
in the bank of the Colorado River below the former 
opening to let in more water, the old intake having 
been so filled with mud that the quantity of water flow- 
ing through it was greatly decreased. 

The success of the operation was great, so great, 
indeed, that rejoicings followed the opening of the new 
intake. The rejoicings, however, were soon replaced 
by apprehension, for another flood visited them. The 
quantity of water that poured through the new open- 
ing far exceeded the limits of safety. Although many 
184 


The Land of Drought 

efforts were made to force the river again to flow 
through its old channel, the opening increased in size 
until, it is said, the entire river flowed through it.” 

“Were they finally able to stop the opening?” in- 
quired Norman. 

I “ Had they not been,'*’ replied the professor, “ there 
would have been no Colorado Desert for us to cross. 
The entire depression would have been filled with the 
waters from the river, thus forming a huge lake that 
would now be discharging directly into the Gulf of 
California.” 

It must not be supposed that because so little has 
been said about plants and animals that there were 
none in the desert. On the contrary, there were many 
curious forms of plant and animal life that could not 
but attract their attention. It is true the animal life 
kept itself to a great extent hidden, but the plant life, 
although small in amount and irregular in distribu- 
tion, existed to an extent that would hardly have been 
thought possible when the scarcity of water is con- 
sidered. 

It was a constant source of astonishment to the 
boys how plants and animals could live in such an in- 
tensely hot and extremely dry place. 

“ How can they manage to live at all, professor ? ” 
inquired Rob. “ I know they cannot live without 
water, and here there seems to be little or none.” 

“ The plants and animals must fight hard to get their 
food,” replied the professor. “ They can never give up 
i8S 


The Land of Drought 

this fight. Only those capable of doing this can live at 
all.” 

I can understand animals fighting with other ani- 
mals in order to eat them, or to keep from being eaten, 
or striving to escape when pursued, but I cannot un- 
derstand why plants have to fight in order to live. 
What do plants fight against?” inquired Rob. 

‘‘ I am surprised, Robert,” said the professor, ‘‘ that 
you ask such a question. Like every living thing on 
the desert, plants must -struggle hard against excess- 
ive heat and drought. The little water that falls as 
rain must be taken in by them rapidly, and so stored 
within their bodies that it shall not be soon lost or 
dried up by the hot air. Then, again, the plants must 
fight as well as they can to prevent being eaten by 
animals that browse or live off them.” 

“ I don’t see how plants can fight to avoid being 
eaten,” exclaimed Norman. “ They are stuck in the 
ground and cannot run away when the animals are 
coming to eat them.” 

I think, Norman,” replied the professor, I can 
best give an answer to your question after discussing 
some other points about plants. All of you have seen 
different kinds of plants while in the desert. I will 
ask each of you, in turn, to tell me what you think is 
most peculiar about these plants. You begin. Happy. 
What curious things about them have you noticed?” 

‘‘ They all have odd shapes, and seem to be packed 
in a very small space. Then too, they have few or no 
leaves,” replied Happy. 

i86 


The Land of Drought 

“ If plants exposed extended surfaces to the dry, hot 
air of the desert,” said the professor, ‘‘ in a very short 
time after a rainfall they would lose the little water 
they had collected. Their rounded form, however, per- 
mits them to take in considerable water and yet ex- 
pose a small surface to the dry, heated air. This is 
seen in the rounded shapes of most cactus plants. 
Had the plants of the desert many large leaves, like 
those of well-watered districts, the evaporation would 
be so rapid that they would require almost constant 
rain to keep them from drying up. 

‘‘ What have you noticed that is peculiar to desert 
plants, Robert?” inquired the professor. 

“ That when broken or cut most of them throw out a 
liquid substance that rapidly dries and covers them 
with stuff like varnish.” 

“ Can you see, then, how that would enable them to 
keep their moisture ? ” 

‘‘ I imagine,” said Rob, “ this coating bottles up the 
moisture inside the plant just as a coating of varnish 
would, and so keeps the water from evaporating.” 

Then it is the varnish that makes the mesquite tree 
so shiny,” said Happy; ‘‘and I suppose it is this 
gummy substance that makes the wood feel sticky to 
the touch.” 

“ What have you observed, Norman? ” inquired the 
professor. 

“ Almost all the plants are covered with sharp thorns 
or needles. One can hardly touch any of them without 
being stung. Of course, uncle, these thorns could not 

187 


The Land of Drought 

help plants keep what little moisture they obtain, could 
they?” 

“ You are mistaken, Norman,” was the reply. 

They act as a shield to keep hot, dry winds from 
blowing directly on the plants. 

“ But this is not the principal manner in which the 
thorns protect them. There are so many hungry ani- 
mals in the desert, and so few plants, that the plants 
would soon disappear entirely if it was easy or agree- 
able to eat them. But the thorns and needles of the 
plants prevent them from being too easily devoured. 
Why,” he added, “ even in the few grasses of the 
desert, the edges of the separate blades are provided 
with sawlike teeth that render their eating by animals 
unpleasant.” 

“ I’ve noticed another thing about desert plants, 
professor,” said Happy ; ‘‘ that is, their roots extend 
very far under the ground. I suppose this is to 
permit them to get what little water there may be 
under ground.” 

“ That is the reason,” was the reply. Some plants, 
like the greasewood and the mesquite, are not only pro- 
vided with long roots, but these roots possess so great 
power and strength in forcing their way through the 
ground that they can pierce a mass of rotten granite 
almost as easily as a diamond drill can a sound stone.” 

Professor,” inquired Rob, “ is it the disagreeable 
odor of the plant that protects them from the browsing 
animals ? ” 

** There is no doubt in my mind,” was the reply, 
1 88 


The Land of Drought 

“ that that is the principal use of this peculiarity of 
plants. In addition to this, many specimens produce 
poisonous juices that render it impossible for animals 
to eat them. Some produce juices that act corro- 
sively on the mouth. You can understand, therefore, 
that such plants would be free from destruction by 
browsing animals. 

And now, Robert,” he said, turning to the lad, “ do 
you see how plants can fight against the animals that 
come to devour them ? ” 

I understand it quite well now, sir,” was the reply. 

Coming to the animals of the desert,” continued 
the professor, “ you can understand that they are 
obliged to fight for their food. There is not enough 
for all, and it is only the stronger that get it. The car- 
nivorous, or flesh-eating animals require speed to 
overtake their prey, and strength to kill them when 
overtaken. It is among the carnivora of the desert 
that the greatest muscular development is found. In 
order to be able to live, the animals must possess fe- 
rocity and endurance. Take, for example, an animal 
like the panther or the desert lion. Naturalists de- 
clare that this animal is fiercer and more magnificently 
developed than the same animal in a country where 
vegetation is plentiful, and where, therefore, plant- 
eating animals live in great numbers. The same is 
true among other of the carnivora. 

“ Let us now consider the herbivorous, or plant-eat- 
ing animals, on which the carnivorous animals live,” 
continued the professor. Were these animals easily 
189 


The Land of Drought 

caught and devoured they would soon disappear en- 
tirely. The fact that they still exist is proof that they 
have developed speed greater than that of their pur- 
suers; or when this is impracticable, have learned va- 
rious tricks to fool their enemies. 

“ Take, for example, the jack-rabbit,” he continued. 
“ This animal is provided with keen eyes that enable 
it to see in nearly all directions, and great ears that 
enable it to detect the slightest sound. It is these ears 
that have given it the name of jackass rabbit. When 
pursued, the speed with which he can flee is greater 
than that of almost any other animal. 

Even the little horned toad is so able to change the 
color of its skin, that it is practically impossible to de- 
tect it while quietly lying stretched out on the rocks. 

‘‘ Coming now to reptiles, insects, and smaller ani- 
mals, such as spiders, rattlesnakes, scorpions, tarantu- 
las, Gila monsters, etc., these depend mainly for pro- 
tection on the highly poisonous venom they secrete.” 


190 


CHAPTER XVIII 


Some Desert Plants 

After spending two days on the shores of the Salton 
Sea, they started across the country toward the north- 
west; for both the professor and Mr. Christian had 
professional work in these parts of the desert. During 
this journey, as well, indeed, as in the parts they^had 
already visited, they had excellent opportunities for 
examining the plant and animal life. We shall briefly 
describe some of these specimens without following 
any special order. 

One of the commonest trees of the Colorado Desert 
is the honey-pod mesquite. Where the water supply is 
limited the tree attains the height of three feet, or there- 
abouts, and is a mere bush. Where the supply is great 
it becomes a tree twenty-five feet in height or more. 

The boys were standing around a fairly large mes- 
quite tree, talking about it. 

‘‘ What does the mesquite tree remind you of, 
Rob? ” inquired Happy. “ I mean its shape.” 

“ Of an apple tree,” replied Rob. “ Its branches are 
so crooked. It is wide at the top, has a short, stout 
trunk, and is very crooked in shape.” 

They had often seen the mesquite tree before. Be- 
ing common throughout most of the desert, its wood is 
generally used for camp-fires. It burns readily, makes 
191 


The Land of Drought 

a hot fire, and soon produces a bed of glowing embers 
that are excellent for cooking purposes. 

“ Its leaves are so small,” exclaimed Norman, “ that 
it would take many to cover a common postage stamp. 
This tree won’t lose much water through leaves of that 
size.” 

Mr. Christian, who had heard the boys talking, said : 

“ Besides being suitable for fuel, the mesquite wood 
is fine-grained and durable, and is generally employed 
in the desert for building houses, where it is practically 
the only wood that can readily be obtained for this pur- 
pose. It is also employed for the posts and rails of the 
fences, corrals, and irrigated fields, as well as for the 
supports of the roofs of adobe houses.” 

“ Don’t you think the leaves of the mesquite look like 
those of the honey locust, Mr. Christian ? ” remarked 
Happy. 

“ They do, for a fact, my lad,” was the reply. In- 
deed, this tree is related to the honey locust. As you 
can see, it bears pods filled with seeds or beans. While 
these beans have no very pleasant taste, yet both they 
and the leaves of the tree are eaten by horses and cat- 
tle when other food cannot be obtained. At almost all 
times they form one of the principal foods for small 
rodents and birds.” 

‘‘ What makes the tree so squatty at the top? ” in- 
quired Happy. “ It looks as if a heavy weight had 
been laid on it so as to keep it from growing upward 
and make it spread sidewise.” 

Mr. Christian was pleased and somewhat surprised 
192 


The Land of Drought 

at a question that indicated such close observation by 
the lad. 

‘‘ I believe,’’ he replied, that the growing bud at 
the top of the tree, exposed as it is to the direct rays 
of the fierce sun, is either dwarfed or killed entirely, so 
that the tree is compelled, as you say, to become squatty 
and grow sidewise, or crablike.” 

In strong contrast to the mesquite was a tree that 
may be regarded as another of the surprises of the 
desert. This was the date palm tree, that raises a ver- 
tical shaft directly toward the sky, as if it delighted to 
bask in the fierce rays of the sun. 

Another tree that greatly interested the boys was 
the candle tree, or the ocatilla (o-ca-tee-ya), so called 
because it exudes a resin, or gum, that, burning 
readily, produces a light somewhat like that of a 
candle. 

“ This tree might be called the fishing-rod tree,” 
said Rob ; “ for, instead of sending up a single trunk, 
like other trees, it produces twenty or more straight 
slender rods like fishing-poles.” 

The boys observed that these separate shoots, or 
trunks, remained close together while the tree was 
growing, but when it commenced to wither, they sepa- 
rated at the top, and finally fell in all directions around 
the root that bore them. 

Hearing the boys talking about this tree, Colorado 
Bill said : 

‘‘ Thet tree, my lads, don’t show most of its wood 
above ground. Thar be a big stick underneath, as some- 

N 193 


The Land of Drought 

times ye kin see when the wind hez blown away the 
ground that kivered it.” 

“ Are these sticks, or rods, used for any other pur- 
pose than candles, professor?” inquired Rob. 

“ I believe,” was the reply, the Indians use what 
you call the fishing-poles for fences, or for forming 
screens around the porches of their mud houses. Be 
careful you don’t take too great liberties in handling 
the living wood of the candle tree. It is covered with 
ugly thorns. 

“ The candle tree,” continued the professor, sucks 
up great quantities of water during a rainfall, and 
stores it away in its huge fleshy roots. Having in this 
manner laid in a water supply, it soon bursts into leaves 
that appear on opposite sides of the rods throughout 
their entire length. Unlike nearly all other desert 
plants, these leaves are long and thick, some being 
fully one and a half inches in length. As you can un- 
derstand, since these leaves rapidly lose their water 
by evaporation, they are soon dried up by the heat of 
the desert. 

At times, during the year, the candle tree bears 
scarlet bell-shaped blossoms, that, like all other flowers 
of the desert, appear all the more beautiful by reason of 
the absence of other flowers near them.” 

Another common, bushlike plant, perhaps the com- 
monest of the region through which they had been 
passing, is the creosote bush. In some portions of the 
desert hundreds of square miles of surface are fairly 
covered with this plant. The creosote bush has a dis- 
194 


The Land of Drought 

agreeable odor, not unlike that of creosote, or car- 
bolic acid. To most people the odor is exceedingly un- 
pleasant. In speaking of it, Professor Gray, the well- 
known American botanist, says : 

“ So foul is its odor that even mules will not eat it.’’ 

The bush consists of clusters of brittle, woody stems, 
covered with smooth brown-colored bark. The leaves 
are of bright green color. 

Has the creosote bush any use, professor?” in- 
quired Rob. 

“ It has, indeed, my lad,” was the reply. “ It ap- 
pears to act as a screen to catch the drifting sand and 
dust and hold them in place. In this way, by pre- 
venting the spread of fine dust, it keeps the air clear. 
Otherwise, when the wind begins to blow the air would 
become very dusty.” 

“ It would be unfortunate for the creosote bush to 
do this work too thoroughly, would it not? ” inquired 
Happy. 

'' I see what you mean,” said the professor. '' Some- 
times that is just what happens. The bush so effectu- 
ally stops the sand that it is killed by the deep covering 
it collects. But then,” he added, “ other bushes soon 
grow in its place.” 

The palo verde is one of the most beautiful of desert 
trees. The name means, in Spanish, the green tree. 
Like all desert trees, it varies in size according to the 
quantity of water with which it is supplied. When 
this supply is limited, it is more like a bush than a tree ; 
for then its height seldom exceeds three feet. With a 

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The Land of Drought 

more plentiful water supply, it may reach a height of 
fifteen feet and a trunk diameter of nine inches. 

There are good reasons for calling the palo verde 
the green tree; for its green color is so beautiful that 
it cannot fail to attract the attention of all who chance 
to see it. Its smooth, polished bark, trunk, branches, 
and twigs are also of beautiful green colors, none of 
which is of the same tint as the green of the leaves. 
The palo verde is a common tree on the sides of ar- 
royas, or gullies, where there is rather more water than 
in the open plain. Its wood, which somewhat resem- 
bles the wood of the white birch, is much used for 
brake-wheels for the freight wagons of the desert. 

The greasewood, or, more correctly, the grease- 
woods — for there are a number of them — are common 
and important desert trees. One, known as the black 
salt bush, is employed by the Indians for coloring some 
of the strands of their woven straw baskets. The 
color is prepared by boiling the plant when mixed with 
wood ashes, and pressing out the juice. The separate 
strands of straw are permitted to remain in the boiling 
liquor for some time. 

Another variety of greasewood, the white salt bush, 
is common in the Colorado Desert. Under favorable 
circumstances it may reach a height of twenty feet. 
In some parts of California, where the water supply is 
more plentiful, this tree has been successfully employed 
for hedges. 

But it is the cactus plants that especially characterize 
the desert of Colorado, and by this I mean the desert 
196 


The Land of Drought 

that exists on each side of the Colorado River in both 
California and Arizona. What especially characterizes 
the plants is the softness of their outer tissues that are 
exposed to the air, and the great variety of thorns, nee- 
dles, stickers, etc., that, as a rule, almost completely 
cover them. It has been asserted that there are nearly 
one thousand different varieties of these curious desert 
plants. 

In his book on The Wonders of the Colorado 
Desert,” James quotes the following characteristic, yet 
fairly accurate, description of some of these varieties 
as given by an old prospector in the Colorado Desert. 
As will be seen, this classification is based on the many 
different shapes assumed by the thorns : 

‘‘ ‘ By gosh,’ said he, ‘ you city fellers have no idea 
how many kinds we got. I know every one of ’em. 
There’s the “ full of stickers,” all stickers,” ‘‘ never- 
fail stickers,” stick everybody,” the stick and stay 
in,” “ the sharp stickers,” ‘‘ the extra-sharp stickers,” 
“ big stickers,” little stickers,” ‘‘ big and little 
stickers,” ‘‘ stick while you sleep,” stick while you 
wait,” stick ’em alive,” stick ’em dead,” stick un- 
expectedly,” “ stick anyhow,” ‘‘ stick through leather,” 
“ stick through anything,” “ the stick in and never 
come out,” “ the stick and fester cactus,” ‘‘ the cat’s 
claws cactus,” “ the barbed fishhook cactus,” ‘‘ the rat- 
tlesnake’s fang cactus,” the stick seven ways at 
once cactus,” “ the impartial sticker,” the democratic 
sticker,” “ the deep sticker,” and a few others.’ ” 

By far the most characteristic of the cactus 
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The Land of Drought 

plants is the giant cactus, or, as it is called by the 
Mexicans, the saguaro (sa-war'-o). This remarkable 
vegetable product sometimes reaches the height of a 
tall tree, sending out a shaft that extends from fifty- 
five to sixty feet above the level of the desert. This 
shaft rises vertically like a flag pole or a telegraph pole, 
and has the shape of a cylinder, the surface of which, 
however, has accordeon pleats extending in the direc- 
tion of its length. 

Some giant cactus plants consist of a single vertical 
column that resembles a flag pole or a telegraph pole. 
More frequently, however, other columns grow out 
from the sides of the main column, assuming very odd 
shapes, though mainly extending upward and, like the 
central shaft, characterized by flutings. 

One day while Happy was examining a huge giant 
cactus, a puzzled look spread over his countenance. 

Tell me what is bothering you, my lad,” said Mr. 
Christian. “ Perhaps I can help you.” 

I was wondering, sir,” replied Happy, ‘‘ whether 
that huge cactus would not be better able to keep the 
water it takes in after a rain if its surface were smooth. 
You see it has long flutings and, therefore, an extended 
surface. Is not this so ? ” 

I see, my lad,” said Mr. Christian, you are a 
close observer. The flutings do increase the area of 
the columns, but there is a use for the flutings that 
more than makes up for the loss of water that might 
result from their presence. After a heavy rain, when 
the plant takes in a large quantity of water, the pleats 
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The Land of Drought 

open, thus increasing the diameter of the tree; when, 
on the other hand, the tree loses water, it shrinks and 
the pleats come together.” 

I understand now,” said Happy, “ The pleatings 
make the tree larger or smaller, according to the quan- 
tity of water it takes in,” 

“ Exactly,” said Mr. Christian. They cause it to 
act as collapsible or expansible reservoirs.” 

‘‘Has the giant cactus long roots?” inquired 
Happy. 

“ Its roots extend for considerable distances in all 
directions around the tree,” was the reply. “ In many 
cases these roots have been traced for a distance of 
fifty feet or over. They lie near the surface, and can 
therefore rapidly suck in the water after a rainfall.” 

“ I cannot understand how the giant cactus can re- 
main standing so high in the desert, Mr. Christian,” 
said Rob. “ Like all the cactus plants, it is formed of 
very soft material. I should think it could readily be 
blown over by the wind.” 

“ Ask me that question,” said Mr. Christian, “ the 
next time we see a dead giant cactus, and Fm sure, if 
you examine it carefully, you will be able to find the an- 
swer yourself.” 

They saw a dead giant cactus that afternoon. Its 
soft body had entirely rotted, leaving the skeleton in 
the shape of a circle of straight rods of tough, white 
wood. Before its death the cactus had a height of 
twenty feet and a width of one foot. The separate 
rods were about an inch in thickness and over fifteen 
199 


The Land of Drought 

feet in height. As they afterward learned, this wood 
is sufficiently strong to be employed for many useful 
purposes. 

But one of the most interesting of the big cactus 
plants was a variety known as the barrel cactus, or the 
bisnaga. 

Their last camp had been a dry camp ; that is, was so 
far from a water supply that they were obliged to 
camp with no other water for use than that they had 
carried with them from the last well. They were, 
therefore, very thirsty. 

On passing a large barrel cactus, Colorado Bill said 
to the boys: 

How would you like a drink of good cold water, 
my lads ? ” 

Try us. Bill, and we’ll show you whether we would 
like it or not,” replied the boys. “ But where can you 
get it? There are no springs around here.” 

Whar will I git it? ” was the inquiry. I’ll tap 
thet sticky bar’l.” 

'' All right, Bill,” said the professor, ‘‘ we’ll stop 
here and let the boys see how easily good drinking 
water can be obtained from this cactus if one only 
knows how to go about it.” 

“ Come and help me, Sam,” said Bill, turning to the 
Chinese. 

“ Awake-in-the-Night also help,” said the Indian. 

Taking a sharp knife Bill cut a slice in the top of the 
cactus, disclosing a white-colored meat. In the mean- 
while, Awake-in-the-Night cut a stem from a near-by 
200 


The Land of Drought 

palo verde. As soon as Bill got the stick he began to 
use it as a pounder, or pestle, beating straight down on 
the top of the cactus. The pulp began to fly in all di- 
rections; for, as yet, there was no rim. Before long, 
however, a cavity was formed in the top which grew 
deeper and deeper, as Bill kept on the pounding. Then 
Sam, taking out a handful of the moist pulp, re- 
marked : 

“ Sam washee hands alle light,” and in truth they 
needed it. 

Rubbing this handful of moist pulp over his hands, 
he thus removed the worst of the dirt, and, while Bill 
continued pounding, he occasionally took large hand- 
fuls of the pulp, squeezing it so as to let the water run 
back into the now fairly deep vessel, and then throwing 
away the squeezed pulp. In this way, when most of 
the inside of the cactus had been subjected to the 
double treatment of pounding and squeezing, there was 
enough of fairly good water to give each a small 
drink. This water had a sweetish taste, somewhat 
like that of a fresh turnip, but was not otherwise un- 
pleasant. 

It was evident from what Sam told them, that this 
juice, when condensed by boiling, produces a sugar 
possessing a very pleasant taste. 

’Melican boy likee candy ? ” inquired Sam. “ Pel- 
haps sometime Sam makee candy.” 

Another form of cactus is known as the organ-pipe 
cactus. This name is given to the plant from the fact 
that it sends up vertical, cylindrical columns, resem- 
201 


The Land of Drought 

bling the pipes of an organ. In unusually fine speci- 
mens there are sometimes found as many as twenty 
vertical stems, some of which are twenty-two inches 
around and twenty feet in height. Twice a year, in 
July and October, this cactus bears a fruit possessing 
a very pleasant taste. 

They saw many other varieties of the cactus, but 
the ones mentioned must suffice for our purpose. 


202 


CHAPTER XIX 


Rattlesnakes and Other Desert Animals 

One day when the boys had lagged a little behind the 
men, Happy called their attention to the curious antics 
of a bird somewhat resembling a pheasant. It had 
a long tail and wings, and a crest of greenish-colored 
plumage, all of which it seemed to employ to express 
its feelings; for it would wave its tail in the air, or 
turn it to the right or left, cause its crest feathers to 
project straight up into the air like the feathers in 
the headdress of an Indian on the warpath, throw them 
back close to its head, or make them occupy inter- 
mediate positions. It was provided with a long, horny 
beak. 

The bird was running with a wonderful speed 
toward and from a bunch of cholla, a low but exceed- 
ingly spiney variety of cactus, that is thoroughly pro- 
tected against unwarrantable handling by its innumer- 
able thorns. They watched the bird tear off bunch after 
bunch of the plant with its long beak, and run with 
its load hanging from its beak and deposit it on the 
sand, not far from where the plant was growing. It 
would then return swiftly, tear off another piece, and 
place it alongside the others. To the great surprise of 
Rob and Norman, it did this repeatedly. 

Keep still,” said Happy. ‘‘ I think I know what 
203 


The Land of Drought 

the bird is doing. Bill was telling me about it the 
other day, so let’s watch.” 

The bird was so interested in its work that it did 
not appear to be alarmed at the presence of the boys, 
but continued its motions between the clump and the 
place where it was depositing the cactus on the sand. 

“ Let’s go quietly and try to see what the bird is 
up to,” said Happy. 

Stealing quietly toward the spot, they were sur- 
prised to find a rattlesnake coiled up on the sand ta- 
king a nap in the bright sunlight. So silently had the 
bird carried piece after piece of the cactus, that it had 
been able completely to imprison the snake by piling 
up around it a circular wall, bristling with spines, the 
snake could not possibly cross. 

That’s wonderfully clever,” said Rob in a low 
tone. 

“ So wonderful,” replied Norman, “ that a fellow 
would hardly believe it unless he saw it.” 

“ It’s like many other things animals do,” said Rob. 

While, of course, they could not tell of what the 
bird was thinking, yet it certainly acted as if having 
thus cleverly caged his enemy, it on purpose made a 
noise so as to arouse it. On awakening, the snake en- 
deavored to escape, but in vain. No matter in what 
direction it turned there was a bristling wall of cactus 
facing it. 

In its frantic efforts to escape, the snake foolishly 
struck its head fiercely against the enclosing walls, 
pouring out its venom in its blind passion. Finally, 
204 



No matter in what direction it turned 
there was a bristling wall of cactus 
facing it ” Page 204 


4 




The Land of Drought 

when exhausted by its struggles, and presumably after 
it had thrown out most of its poison, the bird struck at 
it with its long, powerful bill, killed it, and then pro- 
ceeded to eat it with great deliberation. 

Do you know the name of the bird. Happy? ” in- 
quired Norman. 

‘‘ It is the road-runner,” was the reply; ‘‘ so named 
from the speed with which it can run. Bill told me 
some wonderful stories about this speed. He said it 
can easily run in front of a good horse and light wagon 
without being overtaken. Indeed, he told me he be- 
lieved that the critter, as he called it, delighted in just 
keeping ahead of a fast horse to show what it could 
do ; for if an attempt was made to overtake it, it would 
increase its speed without apparently making any very 
great additional effort.” 

“ Has the bird any other name. Happy?” inquired 
Rob. 

“ It is sometimes called a chaparral-cock,” was the 
reply, because it breeds in the chaparral.” 

“ What is a chaparral. Happy ? ” inquired Norman. 

‘‘ An awful tangle of dwarf oaks, thorny shrubs, or 
low cactus plants, growing near the ground. I sup- 
pose it breeds in the chaparral because it can run 
rapidly through the tangled mass, where but few of its 
enemies can pursue it.” 

Will the bird fight people as fiercely as it did the 
rattlesnake, Happy ? ” asked Norman. “ If it does, I 
should not care much to tackle it.” 

“ But it does not,” said Happy. On the contrary, 
205 


The Land of Drought 

Bill told me it can easily be tamed, when it will take 
food out of the hands of any one with whom it has 
become friendly. He said it is a common thing, when 
a camp continues on the same spot for a week or more, 
to have one or more road-runners hanging around. 
This they do at first with the hope of picking up any 
small scraps of food that may be left. If kindly 
treated they draw nearer to the camp, and at last come 
boldly up to the people, begging to be fed.” 

“ It surprises me. Happy,” said Norman, “ that an 
intelligent bird would be willing to eat such awful 
food as rattlesnakes. Don’t you agree with me ? ” 

“ Oh, I don’t know,” said Happy smiling. ‘‘ Rat- 
tlesnakes don’t make such bad eating.” 

“ Good gracious ! Have you ever eaten rattle- 
snakes ? ” inquired Rob in astonishment. 

“ I have never eaten them,” was the reply ; “ but Bill 
tells me he has. He said that more than once, while 
crossing the desert, when their food almost entirely 
gave out, their Indian guide killed several rattle- 
snakes and, cutting the heads from the bodies, skinned 
the animals and cooked them. Bill acknowledged that 
he did not like to eat them at first, but was so hungry, 
and the food smelled so good, that at last he ate with 
the rest.” 

“ Did he say whether it tasted good ? ” inquired 
Norman. 

“ He said the flesh was as tender and juicy as the 
meat of a young chicken.” 

Happy’s glowing account of Bill’s experience, with 
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The Land of Drought 

the meat of rattlesnakes as an article of diet, utterly 
failed to convince Norman. 

If we ever have cooked rattlesnakes out here on 
the desert,’' he said with a shudder, “ you are wel- 
come to my share.” 

“ And to mine,” remarked Rob. What do you 
say. Happy?” 

“ That would depend on how hungry I was,” said 
Happy. 

Rattlesnakes are common in many parts of the Colo- 
rado Desert. There were several species, one of which 
is called the diamond-back rattlesnake, from the beau- 
tiful diamond-shaped markings extending along its 
back, from the head to near the rattle on the tail. 
These markings are dark-colored on a cinnamon-red 
ground. The belly is almost white. 

It is the two ends of the rattlesnake that attract 
especial attention. These are the tail end, which the 
snake uses to sound warning to intruders to let it 
alone, and the head end, that is especially provided 
either for the foolish animal that does not let it alone, 
or for the animal on which it preys. 

The tail, or the rattle end of the snake, is provided 
with a number of dry, horny things, capable, when 
shaken, of producing a peculiar rattling sound. When 
the snake is angry it gives a quivering motion to the 
tail producing the so-called rattle. It is difficult accu- 
rately to describe this sound. Van Dyke says it is 
something between a buzz and a burr. It is not, how- 
ever, a difficult sound to remember. Once heard, it is 
207 


The Land of Drought 

almost instantly recognized by nearly all the animals of 
the desert. They appear to know how venomous its 
poison is, so the sound produces a dread in nearly all 
of them. Even the larger ones, like horses, tremble 
violently when the rattle is heard, and cannot be per- 
suaded to approach the place from which the sound 
comes. 

The number of rattles found on the snake varies, 
old rattlers having a greater number than the younger 
snakes. It is evident that some relation exists between 
the age of the snake and the number of its separate 
rattles. Since it sheds its skin once each year, a gen- 
eral belief exists that a new rattle is produced at each 
shedding, and that, therefore, a rattler with eight dis- 
tinct rattles has lived just eight years. The truth of 
this statement is denied, however, by many. Profes- 
sor James, who had evidently made a careful study 
of rattlesnakes, declares in his book on “ The Wonders 
of the Colorado Desert,” that there are no reasons, 
whatever, for connecting the number of rattles with 
the number of years the snake has lived; that the 
snake can produce from two to three rattles each year. 
Whether this is true or not, we cannot say ; but another 
statement made by Professor James certainly cannot 
be denied, and this is, that no matter how many rat- 
tles a snake may produce each year, it is not safe to es- 
timate its age by the number it has remaining, since 
it can readily lose some of these at any time. 

They had killed a rattlesnake one day. Bill was 
holding it up on a piece of mesquite wood so they 
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The Land of Drought 

could examine it; for the killing had taken place to- 
ward evening after they had struck camp. 

There were eight rattles on the reptile. 

“ This critter hez lived jist eight years, fer he gits 
one rattle fer each year,” said Bill. 

When Awake-in-the-Night heard this statement of 
BilFs, he said : 

“ Bill heap wrong. Eight rattles means snake has 
killed eight men.” 

What does Awake-in-the-Night mean, profes- 
sor ? ” inquired Rob, when the Indian had gone to 
look after the horses. 

Some Indians have the idea that a rattlesnake is 
able to add an additional rattle for every man it has 
killed,” was the reply. “ Of course,” he added, “ I 
need not tell you this idea is ridiculous.” 

“ Something like what hostile Indians do,” said 
Happy, ‘‘ when they cut a nick on the stock of their 
rifles for every enemy they kill.” 

And now as to the business end of the rattlesnake, 
the end provided for defense, or for killing its prey. 
When a rattlesnake is angry it opens its wide jaws, and 
a forked tongue, of a fiery color, darts out. Most peo- 
ple think this is the sting of the snake. On the con- 
trary, wicked as it looks, and it certainly does look 
wicked, possibly from its surroundings, the tongue is 
absolutely harmless. The danger of a rattlesnake 
comes with the bite of a pair of fangs hinged in the 
upper jaw. 

But the fangs of the rattlesnake do not contain the 
o 209 


TTie Land of Drought 

poison, or venom, of the animal. They are connected 
with a poison gland, situated at the back of the upper 
jaw, below the eyes. The fangs consist of teeth that 
are sharply pointed downward, and hinged at the top. 
When the animal strikes, the fangs are unhinged. This 
action connects the poison gland with the fangs, per- 
mitting the poison to flow through a canal-shaped 
sheath connected with the fangs. Sometimes, when 
the snake has struck with its fangs, instead of being 
conducted through the canal to the wound, the poison is 
spilled outside it. This probably explains why, although 
much venom is found around the wound, no evil re- 
sults are produced in some cases where the bite has 
apparently been direct. 

There can be no doubt as to the highly poisonous 
character of the rattlesnake venom. Where one has 
received a full bite, especially in a part of the body 
where there are large blood vessels, and the venom 
has been discharged through the fangs directly into 
the wound, probably nothing can save his life. Where, 
however, little or no poison has been injected into the 
wound, either because the fangs have not been un- 
hinged so as to connect them with the poison gland, 
or where the fangs have passed through the clothing 
and considerable poison has thus been wiped off, death 
would probably not follow, even if none of the so- 
called infallible snake remedies had been employed. 
This is the reason why it is so difficult to determine 
the true value of many well-known rattlesnake anti- 
dotes. 


210 


The Land of Drought 

It may be well here to know that there are certain 
things which it is always safe to do in the case of a 
rattlesnake bite. A cord, or string, should be tightly 
tied around the bitten part above the wound, and the 
poison sucked out of the wound with the lips. There 
is no danger in doing this, provided there are no cuts 
in the lips or mouth. At the same time the wound 
should be cauterized by holding the blade of a pen- 
knife in the fire until it becomes red hot. Curiously 
enough, the hotter the knife the less the pain produced, 
a white-hot blade being far less painful than one that 
is merely red hot. If ammonia can be obtained it 
should be poured into the cut, since it neutralizes the 
poison by entering into chemical combination with it. 
In other words, the ammonia converts the poison into 
a comparatively harmless substance. 

A method frequently employed in the West is to 
rub into the wound a chemical substance popularly 
known as chameleon mineral, from the changes of 
color its solution in water undergoes. This substance 
is known to scientific people as permanganate of pot- 
ash. It practically burns out the poison by rapid oxida- 
tion; for it contains large quantities of oxygen that 
unites with and so decomposes the venom. Where 
people are in a district containing many rattlesnakes, 
it is advisable that they provide themselves with the 
well-known hypodermic syringe ; since, by its use, it is 
easy to squirt a solution of permanganate of potash in 
water into the tissues surrounding the wound, and so 
neutralize the poison. 


211 


The Land of Drought 

A difference of opinion exists as to the efficacy of 
alcohol as a remedy for snake bites. I believe it is 
generally recognized that an advantage is to be de- 
rived from the use of alcohol, because it stimulates the 
beating of the heart. It is very doubtful, however, 
whether it is advisable to give the patient whisky until 
hilariously drunk. 

Speaking of the use of whisky in the case of snake 
bites, H. A. Surface, in a paper published by the 
Pennsylvania State Department of Agriculture, en- 
titled The Serpents of Pennsylvania,” says : 

“ Most cases of death or serious results from snake 
bites are due to the effect of the poison on the heart, 
and this is why whisky is so often regarded as a sover- 
eign remedy. It is entirely wrong for a person who 
is bitten by a venomous snake to fill himself widi 
whisky and expect this to be the only remedy necessary. 
In most cases it may be a decided help, but it should 
be a last resort rather than a first.” 

The same author, in speaking of remedies for snake 
bites, gives advice that will be found in Appendix C, 
Remedies for Snake Bites.” 

The Indians are said to have a sure antidote for 
the bite of a rattlesnake, even when this bite is full and 
considerable poison has been injected into the cir- 
culation. They certainly have need of such knowl- 
edge, since in their sacred snake dances they handle 
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The Land of Drought 

the reptiles fearlessly, even taking them in their 
mouths. In the Indians of the Painted Desert Re- 
gions,” George Wharton James refers to this matter 
as follows: 

“ There are times when the priests are bitten, but, 
as was suggested in the snake legend, they have a 
snake-venom-charm liquid. This is prepared by the 
chief woman of the snake clan, and she and the snake 
priest alone are suffered to know the secret of its 
composition. It may be that this secret will be given 
to the world by a gentleman who is largely in the 
confidence of the Hopis, but, as yet, it is practically 
unknown. That it is an antidote there can be no 
question. I have seen men seriously bitten by rattle- 
snakes, and in each case after the use of the antidote 
the wounded priest suffered but slightly.” 

We will not attempt to describe the different kinds 
of rattlesnakes found on the desert. The one most 
dreaded is known as the horned rattlesnake, or the 
'' side-winder,” from the irregular sidewise or crablike 
motion that makes it so difficult to know exactly the 
direction from which it is going to strike. The snake 
is somewhat quicker in its motions than most of the 
others. Instead of moving in a straight line, its mo- 
tions when marked on the sand can be seen to take 
the shape of the letter S. 

There are many other poisonous animals on the 
desert. Probably the one most dreaded, after the rat- 
tlesnake, is the Gila monster, a lizard of from one to 
two feet in length. This animal produces a venom 
213 


The Land of Drought 

that, while perhaps not quite so poisonous as that of 
the rattlesnake, is exceedingly dangerous when a full 
injection is thrown into the body. When not angry, 
the Gila monster is sluggish in its movements, but 
when aroused is capable of dangerously rapid move- 
ments. It has a curious habit after striking of imme- 
diately turning over. It bites with a snap, cutting out 
a piece of the object struck, and then holds on to it 
with greater tenacity than a snapping-turtle. When 
the bite is made, and while the animal is holding on, it 
instantly turns over. This is the great danger ; for the 
poison glands and saliva are then discharged freely 
into the wound. The treatment for its bites is similar 
to that for a rattlesnake bite. 

For the many myths concerning rattlesnakes, etc., 
see Appendix D. 

Among other poisonous animals of the desert are 
the scorpion, a variety of centipede, and a number of 
poisonous spiders, especially tarantulas. None of 
these, however, produce so dangerous a poison as 
either the rattlesnake or the Gila monster. 

The animals so far named are comparatively small. 
There are, however, others of fairly large size. One 
of the largest is the mountain lion, or, as it is commonly 
known, the panther. This animal is generally found 
in the mountains that surround the desert, but now and 
then comes down to the floor of the desert. It some- 
times has a length of eleven feet from head to tail, 
and a weight of three hundred pounds or over. 

But we must not fail to mention another poisonous 


The Land of Drought 

animal that is, perhaps, even more greatly feared than 
either the rattlesnake or the Gila monster. This is the 
polecat, or skunk, generally called the hydrophobia 
skunk from the alleged fact that its bite, even when ap- 
parently insignificant, is apt to be followed by hydro- 
phobia. It is, however, generally believed by those who 
have studied the matter, that the animal does not 
secrete a special venom, but that the ill effects are due 
to blood poisoning. 

The principal food of the mountain lion is deer, 
mountain sheep, and jack-rabbits. The lion is capable 
of moving with great speed. He is a stealthy animal, 
and is able quietly to approach his prey. As soon as he 
comes within reach he takes a mighty spring on the 
animal and soon despatches it with his powerful teeth. 
As to the power of the animal for jumping, there are 
cases on record where a distance of fifty feet has been 
passed over in a single bound. 

One day while they were passing near an unusu- 
ally large mesquite tree with Colorado Bill, Mr. Chris- 
tian, and the professor, with Rob and Norman in the 
lead, and with Awake-in-the-Night and Happy at the 
end of the line. Happy’s keen sight had detected a 
huge mountain lion crouching on one of the lower 
branches of the tree just about jto spring on the In- 
dian as he passed under it. The Indian, who had been 
looking in another direction, had failed to see his 
danger. Before the huge beast could spring, Happy 
rapidly unslung his rifle and fired. The animal was 
struck and fell to the ground. It was not killed, how- 

215 


The Land of Drought 

ever, and it made another effort to seize its victim. 
Another shot ended the beast’s suffering. 

‘‘ A good shot, Hap,” cried Colorado Bill, who, 
with the others, turned and rode rapidly to where the 
animal was lying on the ground. “ A tarnation quick 
shot too,” and then turning to the Indian he said : ‘‘ If 
the lad hadn’t been so quick on the trigger you’d have 
been in the happy hunting grounds now.” 

Awake-in-the-Night was greatly excited. Every- 
thing had happened so quickly, but he soon controlled 
his excitement and, turning to Happy, said : 

“ White lad save life of Awake-in-the-Night. 
White lad heap good friend of Indians. Awake-in- 
the-Night never forget him.” 

The shot set Sam Ling talking, though this was not 
a difficult thing to do. 

“ ’Melican boy gleat shot. Quick.” 

There is only room for a few brief words concern- 
ing the many other animals of the desert. Perhaps 
one of the commonest is the jack- rabbit, so named 
from the big ears it is able to turn in different direc- 
tions, and by the help of which it can hear the most 
stealthy approach of any of its enemies. Its safety 
from unexpected attacks is also ensured by the promi- 
nent eyes that it is capable of projecting a short dis- 
tance from the head, thus enabling it to see a much 
greater distance around it. And if these fail it gener- 
ally has but little difficulty in escaping by reason of its 
huge legs, with which it can spring in a manner not 
unlike the leaping of the kangaroo. Indeed, the hind 
216 


The Land of Drought 

legs of a jack-rabbit are so developed that one might 
almost suppose, in seeing the animal running, that it 
had only two legs instead of four. 

Another common animal of the desert is a species 
of small prairie wolf, known as coyote (ki-o'-ty). 
It is an ill-disposed animal that at times utters a 
series of yelpings and bowlings that are far from 
pleasant. 


217 


CHAPTER XX 


A Birthday Party in Camp 

Because no special reference has been made of 
minerals since their entrance into the Colorado Desert, 
it must not be supposed the boys had lost their interest 
in them. On the contrary, this interest was as strong 
as ever; and, although, perhaps for the greater part 
it was geology that attracted their special attention, 
mineralogy was by no means forgotten, and several 
additions were made to their collections. Since every- 
thing they took with them was either carried on the 
backs of the pack burros, or on their own persons, 
there was necessarily a limit as regards the size and 
number of the specimens they could take. There was 
this, however, in their favor. Several railroads now 
cross the desert, so that, when unusually good speci- 
mens were to be had, the boys were permitted to pack 
small boxes that were sent by train to Yuma, where 
they would be held until their return. 

“Is not this wind fierce, Rob?” inquired Happy 
one day, when a strong wind was blowing the sand 
directly into their faces. “ It’s almost strong enough 
to cut through the skin and stick in a fellow’s flesh. 
My face feels as if sandpaper had been rubbed over it.” 

“ So does mine,” exclaimed Norman, blinking and 
trying to rub the sand away from his eyes. 

218 


The Land of Drought 

“ Why have you taken your glasses off, Norman? ” 
inquired Happy. “ I should think they would make a 
bully shield for keeping the sand out of your eyes.” 

‘‘ That’s what I thought,” exclaimed Norman, ‘‘ but 
uncle told me always to take them off when the wind 
began blowing the sand about; since, he said, if I let 
the sands strike against them for a few moments only 
I would have difficulty in seeing through them.” 

“ The wind makes a kind of natural sandblast, don’t 
it, Norman?” said Rob laughing. “Let’s ask the 
professor if this blast is strong enough to wear away 
rock surfaces.” 

When this question was asked the reply was : 

“ It is strong enough to produce some very re- 
markable results. If you keep your eyes open I think 
before long you will be able to see some of these ef- 
fects in the curious shapes given to rocks.” 

Shortly afterward they came to a place where the 
rocks had been cut into most wonderful shapes by the 
wind-driven sand. In this manner a great variety of 
forms had been cut in solid stone that the boys at 
once amused themselves in naming. 

“ Look at those fossilized cabbages, Rob,” exclaimed 
Happy, pointing to several places where the projecting 
rocks had been cut down so as closely to resemble 
cabbages. It was not a fancied resemblance. On the 
contrary, it was so complete that it would cause an 
observer on seeing the carvings almost instantly to 
make the mental exclamation, “ Cabbages ! ” 

“ I object to the words ‘ fossilized cabbages,’ 
219 


The Land of Drought 

Happy,” said Rob laughing. They would mean 
cabbages that have been turned to stone, while here, 
as you must confess, it is stones that have been turned 
into cabbages.” 

“ Talking about fossils,” said Norman laughing, 
how will these do for petrified dinner plates ? ” point- 
ing to a number of rocks that had been cut into shapes 
bearing a wonderful resemblance to china plates and 
saucers. 

‘‘ I again object,” said Rob laughing. The word 
petrified, or turned into stone, is clearly unnecessary. 
Dinner plates are already made of stone.” 

“ How is this, my lad ? ” said Mr. Christian who, 
with the professor, had been much amused by the boys’ 
remarks concerning the curiously shaped rocks. 
‘‘ What would you call this ? ” he inquired, pointing 
to a number of rocks that looked for all the world like 
huge dumbbells, each consisting of two spheres con- 
nected together by a short cylinder. 

“ Fossilized dumbbells ! ” exclaimed Happy laugh- 
ing. “ I wouldn’t like to have a scrap with the fellow 
who could swing such bells. They must weigh several 
hundred pounds each.” 

There were many other curious shapes that had been 
assumed by the stones under the action of the wind- 
driven sand, such as roses, tulips, lilies, and other 
flowers. 

Happy, however, took the prize for the discovery 
of the most curious shape of these so-called fossils. 

‘‘Are you hungry, Rob?” he cried. “If so, don’t 
220 


The Land of Drought 

hesitate to eat as many of these fossilized doughnuts 
as you can ; or,” he added, since each has a hole 
in the middle, I suppose I should call them fossilized 
crullers.” Happy was pointing to a number of rocks 
that certainly closely resembled doughnuts or crul- 
lers. Some, curiously enough, had even the color of 
these cakes that are so delicious to many people despite 
their indigestible character. 

“ Do you think I’m a human ostrich,” cried Rob, 
“ to eat stones, not to say anything about tomato cans 
and hairpins? It would not take a heavy meal of such 
food to set me dreaming again.” 

“ It might be a jolly good idea, Rob,” cried Happy 
laughing, to eat some indigestible thing not quite so 
bad as stone doughnuts. It might make you dream 
of that mesa again.” 

“ I wish I could,” said Rob sorrowfully. 

Mr. Christian,” inquired Happy, “ can the curious 
shapes of these stones be explained ? ” 

“ Not fully,” was the reply. “ Of course they are 
due to irregularities of wear. The sand cuts away the 
softer parts more rapidly than the harder parts that 
are left. This would not explain the action, since the 
real cause is the differences of hardness that permits 
the wind to produce these shapes. I imagine, how- 
ever, that these differences of hardness are to be found 
in a peculiar structure existing in some rocks known 
as the ‘ concretionary structure.’ ” 

It so chanced that they were not far from a railroad 
station. It was possible, therefore, to pack a good- 
221 


The Land of Drought 

sized box with these fossil imitations, as they might be 
called, and send them to Yuma. 

That party of five men and three boys were a jolly 
crowd. The professor and Mr. Christian could be 
scientific on short notice; indeed, very much so. But 
it was not difficult for them, in due season, to put 
science aside and become as jolly as any of the others. 
In this way either of them could become as much like 
a boy as Rob and Happy. And as to Bill, he declared it 
was the j oiliest crowd he had ever struck. Sam too 
enjoyed being with them, and at times even the Indian 
so far forgot himself as to smile at some of their merry 
jokes. 

The boys led in jollity, but the men were not far 
behind. The fun and merriment were especially com- 
mon at the camp-fires, though far from absent during 
the rest of the day. The five men of the party had 
found, as any men will find if they only make the trial, 
that the presence of boys, so far from being a nuisance, 
was a bit of good fortune; for the boys were the life 
of the party. Of course, when I say this I assume that 
the right sort of boys have been picked out; that they 
are not weak, sickly, sleepy, stupid lads, who like 
nothing better than to lie asleep in bed when the others 
are up; boys who are constantly grumbling if they do 
not find in the desert all the comforts of civilization; 
boys who generally make nuisances of themselves by 
unduly magnifying trifling inconveniences. No, not 
such boys, but three, lively, wide-awake, brainy, jolly 
222 


The Land of Drought 

chaps, who laughed down inconveniences and did their 
full toward making things pleasant; these are the boys 
I have in mind. 

Happy was the general favorite. There was some- 
thing so sunny and cheerful in the lad that every 
one liked to have him around. In one sense Happy 
was an egotist. I do not mean by that that he was 
at all stuck on himself, but he firmly believed he was 
an exceedingly lucky fellow. Again and again, when 
actual misfortunes had befallen him, instead of sitting 
down and bewailing his bad luck, he rather chose to 
regard what had happened as something wonderfully 
fortunate. He got into the habit of endeavoring to 
discover the things wherein this good fortune lay, 
and as he discovered them, or thought he discovered 
them, an appropriate smile would welcome it. In this 
way his face became, as it were, a kaleidoscopic pano- 
rama of bright, happy, cheerful thoughts. 

The men soon discovered this peculiarity of the 
lad. Awake-in-the-Night had several times called 
Happy by a strange Indian name, that when they at last 
persuaded him to explain they found meant “ Smile- 
on-his-Face.” Even Sam sometimes called him “ Alle 
Laugh.’' 

As for Bill, it was clear that he was proud of the lad 
he had so well taught to ride and shoot. He ap- 
peared to derive great fun from the merry tricks 
Happy was constantly playing on them. Many of these 
were so novel and unexpected that one never knew 
what was coming next. This much, however, can be 
223 


The Land of Drought 

said about all of them. There was nothing mean or 
nasty about them. They were produced by a nature 
overflowing with merriment, and were just such tricks 
as might be expected from a lively boy free from 
vicious habits. 

Nor were all the tricks played by Happy on the 
others. He came in for his full share. Most of the 
tricks on Happy were for the purpose of seeing how 
far he would be able to meet what happened with a 
smiling face. They tried their best to make that 
smile disappear, but somehow or other it would not 
rub off. One smile disappeared only in order to make 
room for another. 

Without attempting to enumerate these tricks, it 
may be said that the commonest consisted of the stupid 
plan of quietly hiding some necessary article of dress, 
such as trousers or shoes, and forcing the lad to go an 
hour or so from camp before finding the lost articles. 
But whatever his real opinions may have been as to 
the character of the tricks, they were always lost in 
his smiles. 

An opportunity for seeing how far Happy could 
look on a misfortune in the light of good luck oc- 
curred one day in an accident that might have had 
fatal results. The professor and Mr. Christian had 
stopped to examine the slope of a mesa, or high land, 
for they were now near the mountains, on the western 
boundary of the desert. The slope was steep, and 
although generally covered by a growth of mesquite 
trees, yet a clear spot had been formed at one place by 
224 


The Land of Drought 

a small landslide. The loose soil had slipped ofY leav- 
ing a bare space several hundred feet in width. It 
looked to the men as though the landslide had dis- 
closed a fissure vein, and they had stopped to examine 
it. On several occasions the boys had been cautioned 
to be careful how they ascended such a slope. It is 
not difficult to start some of the larger stones rolling, 
and thus moving the others produce a slip, or slide, in 
the loose stones, that might readily kill or maim any 
one it struck. 

Norman, who was a short distance ahead of Happy, 
thoughtlessly ran ahead, climbing the slope. A heavy 
boulder that chanced to be so fixed on the side that it 
needed but a slight push to overthrow it commenced 
rolling down the slope followed by the material above 
it. Almost immediately a small avalanche of boulders 
and rocks rushed down the slope. Not seeing that 
Norman had gone ahead of him, Happy came in the 
path of the rushing mass. 

“ Run for your life. Happy,” cried Rob, who saw the 
danger of his friend. 

Happy did his best to escape, but was unable to do 
so. He was struck by the moving mass and partially 
buried beneath it. 

It was an anxious party that surrounded the uncon- 
scious lad. They began to remove the rocks from 
him, but carefully, so as to prevent the starting of a 
fresh stream down the slope. He was evidently in- 
jured, but whether seriously or not they could not 
say. 

p 225 


The Land of Drought 

Norman began to bitterly upbraid himself at his 
thoughtlessness. 

I can never forgive myself,” he cried. “ How 
could I be so stupid! Is he dead? ” he cried, piteously, 
of those who were nearest the injured boy. 

“ I do not think so,” said Mr. Christian, who had 
his hands on one of Happy’s wrists. “ His heart 
is beating quite regularly. I think he will come to 
— soon. I do not think he has received a very severe 
injury.” 

“ I was very careless,” cried Norman. “ I can never 
forgive myself should serious harm come to Happy.” 

“ There’s no use blaming yourself now, Norman,” 
said his uncle. “ Only be careful in future that you 
do not again act so thoughtlessly.” 

At last Happy, opening his eyes and looking around, 
said: 

“ That was a narrow escape. I might have been 
killed,” and then he began to smile. 

‘‘ What do you find to smile about. Happy ? ” in- 
quired Rob in surprise. “ You certainly cannot find 
any good luck in such an accident as that.” 

■ Why, I might have been killed, and here I find 
myself alive,” said Happy. Don’t you call that 
good luck?” 

‘‘ You might,” said the professor smiling, “ but I 
don’t think most people would. But the most important 
thing is to find out how badly you are hurt. Let us 
know where you feel the most pain.” 

“ The pain is pretty much all over me,” said the 
226 


The Land of Drought 

lad. I think, however, if one part hurts more than 
another it is the left ankle.” 

Spreading a blanket on the sand they laid the lad on 
it and, removing most of his clothing, began an ex- 
amination of his body. Many places where the roll- 
ing stones had struck him were rapidly becoming black 
and blue, but it was the left ankle that appeared to have 
received the greatest injury. After a careful exami- 
nation, Mr. Christian, who was something of a 
doctor, said: 

“ The left ankle has been badly hurt, Joe. We 
must take the lad to the nearest water, strike camp, and 
let him lie on the broad of his back long enough for it 
to heal. He might become lame for life should he at- 
tempt to walk on that leg now.” 

‘‘ Have you any idea, John,” replied the professor, 
how long this rest must be ? ” 

“ Possibly two weeks or so. One can hardly tell 
now, but I think we can count on remaining in that 
camp for not far from ten to fifteen days.” 

‘‘ We will take no risks for the lad, but will remain 
in camp as long as necessary,” said the professor. 

“ I must see about getting that ankle straightened, 
my lad,” said Mr. Christian. “ Th~ere is a slight dis- 
location there. Pm going to hurt you ; I cannot avoid 
it.” 

“ Go ahead, sir,” said Happy. “ Fll manage to bear 
it,” and he did. Although the pain was evidently in- 
tense, he did not make any complaint. 

How far are we from good water. Bill ? ” in- 
227 


The Land of Drought 

quired Mr. Christian. “ I hope it is not too far off ; 
for, somehow or other, we must manage to get the lad 
there, and since we will keep this camp for two weeks 
or so, we must get as comfortable a place as possible.” 

“ Thar be good water four miles from here,” was 
the reply, “ and the road to it is not bad. As to the 
place itself, it is all right to camp in. I reckon we kin 
git Hap thar by swinging a stretcher atween two 
bosses.” 

Bill was referring to a method often adopted in the 
wilderness for carrying injured people on a swinging 
support. A stretcher was soon arranged, and by going 
at a slow gait they succeeded in reaching the site se- 
lected by Bill for a camp that was to remain longer in 
one place than any they had yet struck. 

It is exceedingly unpleasant for an active lad like 
Happy to be compelled to lie, day after day, on the 
broad of his back, especially in the hot air of the desert. 
Fortunately, instead of now being below the level of the 
sea, as they had been while on the bottom of the great 
bowl of the desert, they were nearly a hundred feet 
above the sea, on the slope of the foothills on the lower 
portions of the mountains on the western border. The 
air, though still very warm in the middle of the day, 
was not quite so hot as they had found it in the desert 
proper. 

Never did the injured lad lose his usual expression 
of good nature. Indeed, he bore it so constantly that 
Rob several times lost his patience. 

“ Do take that everlasting grin off your face. Happy, 
228 


The Land of Drought 

and grunt occasionally,” cried Rob. You certainly 
have a right to complain, and I would like to hear you 
do it now and then. It would seem more natural. 
You certainly can find no piece of good luck in being 
obliged to stay here, day after day, do you? Now, 
tell me fair.” 

“ Well, Rob, to tell the truth, I am not able yet to 
see just how this accident is a bit of good luck, but 
I’m certain it is. I shall discover before long where 
the good luck is, and then I am sure you will agree 
with me.” 

Every one in camp did his share in nursing the lad, 
or in doing what he could to make the time less dreary. 
Sam was constantly preparing wonderful dishes he 
thought Happy would enjoy. Among these was a lot 
of cactus candy, prepared by boiling down the juice of 
the barrel cactus. This candy was especially enjoyed 
by the lad, who declared that it was even as good as 
the candy of the Montague Company, of Philadelphia. 

Awake-in-the-Night had not forgotten how Happy 
had saved his life by the shooting of the lion, and fre- 
quently visited the lad, sitting beside him and telling 
him stories about the good and the evil spirits who live 
on the desert, and punish people who try to come and 
steal the gold and silver away from the Indians. 

Rob and Norman spent nearly all their time with 
Happy. Norman felt as if he could never do enough 
to make up, if in part only, for the injury he had un- 
intentionally brought on his friend. 

With a view to making the lad’s bed cooler, for it 
229 


The Land of Drought 

was hot lying on a blanket spread directly on the 
sand, Bill had climbed the mountains beyond and 
brought back a load of hemlock branches which, 
spread on the ground, make a comfortable bed. 

One day, when Awake-in-the-Night was sitting and 
talking with Happy, Rob noticed that the Indian was 
suffering severely from inflammation of the eyes. 

“ Do your eyes hurt you much, Awake-in-the- 
Night?” inquired Rob. 

“ Eyes hurt heap,” was the reply. “ Awake-in-the- 
Night only see little now. Perhaps soon we come to 
some big town, then Awake-in-the-Night will go to the 
white medicine man and say, ‘ Please make eyes well.’ ” 

“ I can help you, Awake-in-the-Night,” said Rob, 
and going to a bundle in which he kept the things he 
would be apt to need, he returned with an eye cup and 
a bottle containing an eye lotion. 

I imagine all my readers have seen that simple but 
very clever device known as the eye cup. It consists of 
a small glass cup, shaped to fit so closely over the eye- 
lid and face that, when pressed firmly against them, it 
forms a water-tight joint. When the cup is partly 
filled with an eye lotion, the head can be thrown back 
so as to permit the lotion to flow all over the ball of the 
eye and inside the lid, without a drop escaping from 
the edges. By opening and closing the eye several 
times the eyeball is thoroughly bathed in the lotion, so 
that any medicinal effects it is capable of producing 
are enabled to act by actual contact with the eyeball and 
lids. 


230 


The Land of Drought 

‘‘ Watch what I am doing, Awake-in-the-Night,” 
said Rob. 

Pouring some eye lotion in the cup and placing it on 
one of his eyes, Rob went through the operation of ap- 
plying the lotion, and then handing the cup yet filled 
to the Indian, told him to do the same thing. 

The Indian had no difficulty in making this applica- 
tion, for it is a simple thing. Evidently the wonder- 
ful soothing power of the lotion greatly surprised him. 
Almost magically the intense pain decreased. 

Now put it to the other eye,” said Rob. 

This was done. It is seldom that an Indian permits 
himself to be surprised, but the relief from pain was so 
great and so almost instantaneous, that it seemed to 
Awake-in-the-Night to be actual magic, so he ex- 
claimed : 

Young white lad great medicine man. Awake-in- 
the-Night friend of white lad.” 

Have you plenty of that lotion, Rob ? ” said Happy, 
fearing it would soon be used up. 

“ I have a lot of boric acid and camphor, that when 
dissolved in water will make a large quantity of the 
lotion. You need not fear its running out.” 

It may be mentioned here that the continuance of 
this treatment two or three times a day for a week 
resulted in the almost complete cure of the inflamma- 
tion. The Indian not only began looking on Rob as his 
great friend, but also in the light of all that a medicine 
man generally means to the Indian; that is, as a 
magician. 


231 


The Land of Drought 

One day while Rob and the Indian were talking to- 
gether with Happy, Happy turned to Rob and said: 

Rob, tell Awake-in-the-Night the story about the 
disappearance of your grandfather and father.” 

The story evidently greatly excited the Indian, who 
said to Rob: 

“ You hope to find these white men? ” 

“ I do, indeed,” was the reply. They are my peo- 
ple, my grandfather and father. Will you help me 
find them, Awake-in-the-Night? ” 

There was an evident hesitation on the part of the 
Indian, so that Happy, turning to him, said : 

“ Young white medicine man is my great friend. I 
would be pleased if you find his people. You will help 
him and me to do this, will you not ? ” 

Because you,” said the Indian, pointing to Rob, 
and Smile-on-his-Face ask me to do this I will help 
you find the men. Not now, but soon.” 

The first opportunity Rob had he said to the pro- 
fessor : 

“ What do you suppose Awake-in-the-Night meant 
when he said he would help me find my people not now, 
but soon? Do you think he knows anything about 
them? ” 

I am not certain,” was the reply, “ but I have an 
idea he knows more about them than he cares to tell 
us.” 

Do you think it would be well,” inquired Rob one 
day of Mr. Christian, “ to try to force him to tell me? ” 

Decidedly not,” was the reply. ‘‘ From what I 
232 


The Land of Drought 

have seen of Indians generally, and Awake-in-the- 
Night especially, I believe any attempt to force him to 
do what he does not wish to do would make him ob- 
stinate. If you did this you might lose the opportunity 
of his voluntarily telling you about it afterward. 
Both you and Happy are now strong friends of the 
man, and I think that when the proper moment comes, 
he will do what he can to help you.” 

It fortunately happened that much of the work the 
professor and Mr. Christian intended to do was in the 
neighborhood of the camp. It was possible, therefore, 
for them to leave Happy attended by one or more of 
his friends while they were off during their work. 

One day, after Happy had been in bed for about 
ten days, as Rob was sitting with most of the other 
people at the camp, he said : 

“ Three days from now will be Happy’s birthday. 
Let’s give him a birthday party.” 

A capital idea,’’ said the professor and Mr. Chris- 
tian. 

Count me in, gents,” said Colorado Bill. 

Gleat idea,” cried Sam. Sam makee velly good 
big cake with sixteen candles.” 

The Indian said : 

Awake-in-the-Night will give Smile-on-his-Face 
great present.” 

Though Norman said nothing, it was evident that 
he would gladly join in with the others in making 
Happy’s birthday party in the desert as happy as pos- 
sible. He was more than glad to do what he could 

233 


The Land of Drought 

to give his friend pleasure, and thus compensate, 
though but triflingly, for the injury he had uncon- 
sciously done him. 

Many were the consultations as to the gifts each 
planned for the injured lad. 

But while nothing was said as to these plans. Happy, 
who was by no means a slow boy, soon discovered that 
something was in the wind, and while he had the good 
sense to say nothing whatever about it, he was shrewd 
enough to suspect its general character. 

The morning of the birthday, like most of the days 
at that season of the year, broke bright and clear. 
Nothing was said about the birthday until near dinner- 
time, when Happy was congratulated on reaching the 
immense age of sixteen years, and Sam, with his face 
wreathed in smiles, brought in a wonderful cake on 
which were burning sixteen candles ; or, to be accurate, 
sixteen slender sticks of the ocatilla or candle cactus. 
After this the presents of each of the party were 
handed to Happy by the donor. 

Mr. Christian gave him a little magnetic needle to 
be hung as a charm on his watch-chain. The profes- 
sor handed him a small but powerful magnifying-glass, 
while Rob and Norman, respectively, presented him 
with a pocketknife and an adjustable lead pencil. 

It was now Bilks turn. It may be said here, that 
Bill and Awake-in-the-Night, having obtained permis- 
sion from the professor and Mr. Christian to be away, 
had left the camp in different directions. Bill, who was 
away for a day and a half, returned with his horse 

234 


The Land of Drought 

loaded with choice cuts from a goat he had killed on 
the distant mountain. Awake-in-the-Night did not 
return for nearly two and a half days. When he 
reached the camp, evidently greatly fatigued, his horse 
showed that it had passed over considerable country. 

When Bill’s turn came to make his present to 
Happy he motioned to Sam, who brought in a 
splendidly baked joint of mutton, possessing an odor 
grateful to the palate. 

They were all so decidedly of the opinion that the 
savory flesh should be eaten at once, that they then and 
there ate the meal of the day, and had a jolly time 
afterward sitting around talking, telling stories, and 
singing. On the whole, it was voted that the birthday 
party in camp was an undoubted success. 

As they were about breaking up for the night, 
Awake-in-the-Night, approaching Happy, said: 

‘'Awake-in-the-Night has present for Smile-on-his- 
Face,” at the same time handing the lad a magnificent 
specimen of dark gold ore. It was evident that there 
was something about this ore that at once attracted 
Happy’s attention. 

“ Black and heavy,” he said, feeling it. “ Would 
you not like to examine it, professor ? ” he said, hand- 
ing it to that gentleman. 

Both the professor and Mr. Christian, who also ex- 
amined the ore, were evidently as greatly surprised as 
Happy had been. 

“A magnificent specimen,” said Mr. Christian. 
“ Almost pure gold.” 


235 


The Land of Drought 

Where did you get this, Awake-in-the-Night? 
they inquired eagerly. But the Indian only smiled. 

“ Awake-in-the-Night no tell.” 

“Is there much of it?” they inquired. 

“ Heap more,” was the reply. 

The first opportunity Rob had of speaking privately 
to Happy, he said : 

“ Happy, I think the same idea came into your mind 
as did to me when we first saw the specimen of gold 
ore that Awake-in-the-Night handed to you.” 

“ I shouldn’t wonder if you are right, Rob,” said 
Happy. “ Tell me what you were thinking about.” 

“ I was thinking,” replied Rob, “ that it was this 
kind of gold ore that was said to have been found at 
the lost gold mine of Pegleg Smith.” 

“ And that is just what I was thinking about,” said 
Happy. 

And this, as they afterward learned, was also the 
idea that had suggested itself to the two gentlemen. 


236 


CHAPTER XXI 


On the Track of Mashinsky and Metchiniskoff 

The scene now shifts. The party that left Philadel- 
phia in search of Mashinsky and Metchiniskoff were 
occupying seats in a parlor-sleeping car on the Penn- 
sylvania Railroad. Petromelinsky, Blank, and Franck- 
sen were sitting on one side of the aisle, while Fred 
was alone on one of the opposite seats. The train was 
moving rapidly toward the West, and was then only 
about fifty miles east of Pittsburgh. 

‘‘We shall probably be obliged to remain in Chicago 
for several days, or perhaps a week. Blank,'' said 
Petromelinsky to that gentleman, who was sitting 
next to him. 

“ How do you make that out, Petromelinsky ? " in- 
quired Blank. 

“ Whatever else you do," exclaimed his companion 
earnestly, “ don't call me by my last name. Call me 
Ivan. My last name is too long to handle easily. But 
what is more to the point, it will be safer if you drop 
it when we reach a city like Chicago. Otherwise, I 
might get a knife thrust that would put me completely 
out of this work." 

“ Before you answer my question, Ivan," said Blank, 
“ tell me why you wish me to drop your last name. If 
you and I are to travel together, either through large 
237 


The Land of Drought 

cities or anywhere else, where there are chances of your 
getting a cut with a knife or a stiletto, provided some 
dangerous fellow hears your name, you had better tell 
me all about it, so that I may be able to understand 
why the mention of the name Petromelinsky should 
produce such results. I’m not chaffing you, Ivan,” he 
said; '‘I’m serious. Why do you not want me to 
speak your name? ” 

“ It’s simple enough if you think a moment. Blank,” 
was the reply. " There are many Russian Nihilists 
living in exile in Chicago and other great cities, who 
have been forced to flee from their native country. 
Now, it happens, I have had no little to do with cha- 
sing these fellows away from their homes. They have, 
therefore, even less love for me than for the Czar of 
Russia, and are ready at any time to stop my work as a 
detective by a knife or by poison.” 

“ Don’t say any more,” said Blank. " I was foolish 
to have asked the question. I should have known the 
answer. I also have admirers of the same stamp in 
different parts of the United States. Fellows, I am 
sure, who would be only too glad to join with yours in 
doing up both of us. And I don’t know that I can 
blame them,” he said reflectively. “ From their stand- 
point, the world in which they live would be greatly 
improved by the disappearance of two such dangerous 
men as you and I. But I don’t mind the excitement, 
Ivan,” he added, “ it rather tends to make my life more 
agreeable. I like excitement, don’t you? ” 

" I do,” was the reply. " Still, as I wish to keep 
238 


The Land of Drought 

alive as long as I can, I think it better if you call me 
Ivan or any other name than Petromelinsky.” 

ril remember,” said Blank. But now answer 
my other question. Why do you think we shall be 
obliged to remain in Chicago for a week, or possibly 
longer? ” 

“ Because I have received a cablegram from the de- 
tective bureau in St. Petersburg that Mashinsky and 
Metchiniskoff, who had been reported as having left 
Chicago for Salt Lake City, are still living in Chicago. 
They are in what I believe you Americans call the 
Nihilist quarter of the city, on account of the many 
Nihilists who have sought refuge there from all parts 
of the world.” 

“ I know, Ivan,” said Blank, ‘‘ that your government 
at St. Petersburg keeps in touch with the fugitive 
exiles and criminals from your country in all parts of 
the world. It’s a clever thing to do. It’ll help us 
greatly in running down the fellows we are after, even 
if they flee all the way across a great country like the 
United States.” 

Francksen, who of course had heard the above con- 
versation, now remarked : 

“ I am greatly surprised that the Russian govern- 
ment keeps itself so well informed as to the doings of 
its criminals when they reach another country. I have 
been wondering how it would be possible for you gen- 
tlemen, clever as you may be in tracking criminals, 
to hope to run down two men who have had so great 
a start on you, and in so big a country as the United 

239 


The Lcind of Drought 

States of America. When you told me the other day 
^that you had reason to believe they were making 
for a place as far west as Salt Lake City, in Utah, I 
could not understand how you could possibly expect to 
catch them.” 

' “ It’s like many other things, Francksen,” said Pe- 

tromelinsky ; “ easy to understand when you look into 
the details. It is practically impossible for any man 
to live in a city, no matter how big that city may be, 
and so thoroughly hide himself as to keep from being 
seen by those who are constantly watching for his 
appearance, unless he is willing to live always in the 
house. Even if he only went out occasionally during 
the night he would, in the end, almost certainly be 
seen. Now, the Czar of Russia, believes it to be worth 
his while to employ people constantly to shadow all 
criminals, especially refugees from his country. From 
the information thus received it is not a difficult matter 
to arrest any of them should something afterward turn 
up that makes it advisable, as it has in the case of the 
two men we are looking for. Mashinsky and Met- 
chiniskoff have been shadowed in this way. When it 
was known that they were wanted, this information 
was sent to the detective bureau at St. Petersburg, and 
that bureau is now keeping me posted.” 

“ I had always been given to understand, gentle- 
men,” said Francksen, “ that the safest thing a crimi- 
nal could do to escape detectives was to hide himself 
in the crowds of a great city.” 

That is a general belief,” replied Blank, “ and I 
240 


The Land of Drought 

reckon that to a certain extent there is some truth in it. 
But as far as my experience goes, and I have had much, 
a fellow is safest if he hides in some country place 
where there are but few people and keeps himself 
quiet.” 

“ You must not forget, Francksen,” said Petrome- 
linsky, “ that the men we are after are big rascals, and. 
that they have come up against a powerful man, the 
Czar. One of them has stolen from him an almost 
priceless gem and has murdered one of the officers of 
his household. As you know, the other man is also a 
thief. Both men are wanted in St. Petersburg. The 
entire detective force of the Russian government in this 
country, as well as the heads of the central office in St. 
Petersburg, are on the outlook for these men. I feel 
confident we shall run them down. As you see, we 
have already spread the net which we hope to draw 
closer and closer until we have them in our grasp.” 

‘‘ The Russian government does not attempt to keep 
track of all refugees that come here from that country, 
does it? ” inquired Francksen. 

It does not. Such an attempt would be foolish,” 
was the reply. “ Besides, many Russians who are 
now living in America are highly respectable people. 
They have either committed no crime at all, or, at the 
most, have only been too free in publicly expressing 
their political opinions, and have either been obliged to 
leave the country or believe they were obliged to leave 
it. When real criminals, or men who are believed to 
be criminals, reach this country, they are to a great 
Q 241 


The Land of Drought 

extent shadowed or spotted, and this has been done 
with Mashinsky and Metchiniskoff.’' 

But suppose these people have left Chicago, as is 
probable, and you merely learn that they are on their 
way for some point farther west, say to Denver or 
Salt Lake City,” persisted Francksen, ‘‘ I don’t see 
how you can hope to track them without knowing the 
particular route they will take. That is a difficulty, is 
it not? ” 

‘‘ It is a difficulty,” was the reply, “ but not so great 
as you seem to believe. While there are many ways of 
reaching Salt Lake City from Chicago, yet, as the men 
are in a hurry, we can figure on their taking the quick- 
est and shortest route, and this would take them 
through Omaha and Denver, most probably by the 
Rock Island Road ; or they may go by another branch 
of the Rock Island Road, by the way of St. Louis, 
Kansas City, and Denver. There is very little differ- 
ence in the length of the routes. However, I’m not ex- 
pecting to do much guesswork here. I hope to receive 
additional information even before we reach Chicago. 
Blank and I hope to pick up much information for our- 
selves in that city, and then, Francksen,” he said, turn- 
ing to that gentleman, we’ll be in Pittsburgh before 
long, where I hope you will have some word from 
Professor Fugleman in the way of a telegram or 
letter.” 

Do you intend stopping at Pittsburgh for any 
time?” inquired Francksen. 

“ Only over night, I think,” was the reply. “ Of 
242 


The Land of Drought 

course that will depend on the information I may re- 
ceive from the people here who keep in touch with St. 
Petersburg.” 

On reaching the hotel, Francksen found a telegram 
from the professor awaiting him. 

“ It is from Chicago,” he said. ‘‘ Listen,” when he 
read the following: 

“August Wilfred Francksen: 

“ Hotel Pittsburgh. 

“Your telegram received. Boys much interested. Will keep 
on outlook for both men, and wire you if anything turns up. 

“J. J. Engleman.” 

J^ot much information there. Blank,” said Pe- 
tromelinsky. 

‘‘ Why, you could hardly expect much more,” was 
the reply. “ There has not been time yet.” 

“ One can never tell what to expect,” said Petrome- 
linsky. 

“ That’s so,” said Blank ; “ but we must not forget 
that the professor and his party have probably spent a 
day or so in Chicago. Now, I’m sure these people will 
let very little escape their attention. We may, there- 
fore, hear something still from them before we leave 
this city.” 

As they were leaving Pittsburgh next morning 
another telegram was received by Francksen, contain- 
ing the information that while in Chicago Mr. Chris- 
tian had met a friend who told him a story about the 
most wonderful emerald he had ever seen. It was 

243 


The Land of Drought 

shown some time ago by a Russian to a jeweler, who 
the man said appeared to be a Russian Jew. The 
jeweler was much pleased with the stone and was 
thinking of purchasing it, but insisted on some evidence 
that the Jew had come honestly by the property and 
was therefore authorized to sell it. The telegram gave 
a description of the gem. 

As was natural, the jeweler made some inquiries at 
the police headquarters in Chicago, where he found a 
description of the emerald lodged by the Russian 
officials, with a warning not to purchase such should it 
be offered for sale. It seemed that the Russian got 
wind of this, and hurriedly left Chicago in com- 
pany with one of his countrymen. 

“Look at that,” said Petromelinsky in delight; 
“ what did I tell you? It is a great thing to have the 
aid of such clever people.” 

“ Of course, Ivan,” said Blank, “ it is possible the 
emerald referred to is not the one we are after, and 
that the Russian Jew is some other man than Metchinis- 
koff.” 

“ Possible, but not probable,” said Petromelinsky. 
“ As to its being another emerald, one does not often 
come across such gems as the one recut for the Czar; 
do they, Francksen? ” 

“ Such gems are extremely rare. I think from the 
brief description given in the telegram, of the beauty 
and size and general character of the gem, that we 
can be almost certain that it was the stolen one.” 

“ And as to the man,” added Petromelinsky, “ this 
244 


The Land of Drought 

description agrees with Metchiniskoff, while that of 
the man with whom he was seen leaving the city agrees 
with Mashinsky.” 

But let us now go back to the time described in the 
first volume of this series, when Mashinsky and Met- 
chiniskoff were run down in Philadelphia by Blank, 
aided by Happy and Rob, and the Blavinski and the 
Dimitri diamonds were recovered. As will be remem- 
bered, both men escaped. Afraid to remain any longer 
in the southern part of Philadelphia, they were tem- 
porarily hiding in the northeastern part of the city, in 
a section known as Richmond. It will be remembered 
that there was no love lost between the two men, so that 
when they had met the double loss of both sets of dia- 
monds, they began to upbraid each other. 

“ Blockhead,” cried Mashinsky to his companion, 
“ why did you not let me know you had the Dimitri 
diamonds ? ” 

Why should I tell you? You would only have 
swiped them from me as you had the Blavinski dia- 
monds from Francksen.” 

“Couldn’t you trust me that far?” inquired Ma- 
shinsky. 

“Trust you?” said his companion with a sneer. 
“ Not much ! ” 

“ Well, we can’t stay in Philadelphia much longer. 
We must get out of the place,” said his companion. 
“ We must try to get to Chicago. I know by letters 
there are many of our society there. Then, in a big 

245 


The Land of Drought 

city like Chicago, we may get enough work in our 
trade at gem-cutting to get us farther across the 
country.” 

“ Have you any money with you, Mashinsky ? ” in- 
quired Metchiniskoff. 

Only a very little,” was the reply. “ Have you 
no money, Metchiniskoff, or anything on which you 
can raise it ? ” 

‘‘ I have nothing,” was the reply. 

Both of these fellows were liars, especially Met- 
chiniskoff. As was afterward discovered, each had 
money, and although the amount was small, yet by 
putting it together there was enough to take them to 
Chicago. Here they found quarters in a little room 
over a pawnbroker’s shop, in a section of the city where 
many Nihilists as well as others of the criminal class 
were living. 

It did not seem that either of the men tried very 
hard to get work. Shortly after reaching the city Met- 
chiniskoff said to Mashinsky: 

Suppose we each try to find work.” 

‘‘ All right,” said Mashinsky. 

So the two men separated. 

I’ll spot that fellow,” said Mashinsky, following 
stealthily. “ He’s not trying to get work. I feel 
pretty sure he lied when he said he had nothing about 
him on which he could get money.” 

Mashinsky ’s suspicions were well founded. Follow- 
ing Metchiniskoff, he saw him enter a large jeweler’s 
store and offer for sale a huge emerald. He managed 
246 


The Land of Drought 

to get near enough, without being seen, to recognize 
it as the emerald that had been recut by Francksen in 
his shop in Amsterdam. 

The jeweler was delighted with the brilliancy of the 
stone, but was unwilling to purchase without learning 
how Metchiniskoff had come into possession of it. He 
could not hear all the conversation, but caught the 
latter part, and heard his companion say to the jeweler : 

“ I’ll call again to-morrow and satisfy you that I am 
authorized to sell the gem.” 

“ So you are a thief as well as a liar, Metchiniskoff,” 
exclaimed his companion as he met him at the door. 
‘‘ You have stolen the Czar’s emerald and then lied to 
me when you said you had no means of raising the 
wind. Of course you understand you must go halves 
with me.” 

“ Not much will I,” replied his companion. “ Why 
should I take all the risk and then share on what I get 
for the jewel ? ” 

‘‘ Because if you don’t,” replied his companion, I’ll 
blab on you and get the rewards offered for the thief 
as well as for the murder of the Czar’s attendant who 
had charge of the precious stone. I’m no fool. I was 
talking with some secret society men about the news 
from Russia, and they told me all about the emerald and 
the murder.” 

What good will it do you to give me up ? ” in- 
quired his companion falteringly. “ You’d only get 
pinched.” 

You must take me for as great a fool as you are,” 
247 


The Land of Drought 

was the reply. “ Til take the risk of being pinched. 
Don’t you see I could stand in with the detectives here 
if I squealed on you? I didn’t steal the emerald or 
murder the man. They would be glad enough to get 
it back if they caught you, would pay me well for the 
trouble, besides letting me go for giving the informa- 
tion.” 

After much quarreling it was agreed that an at- 
tempt should be made to dispose of the great emerald 
for as big a price as was possible, and divide the pro- 
ceeds equally. But when, next day, at Metchiniskoff’s 
request, Mashinsky made inquiries of the jeweler, it 
was discovered that information had been lodged at 
the police headquarters against the purchaser of the 
stone, and that the police were looking for both the 
thief and the murderer, they determined to leave 
Chicago as soon as possible. 

At the same time additional information was re- 
ceived that added no little to their terror. That after- 
noon Metchiniskoff, who had been endeavoring to find 
means for leaving the city, came into the room where 
Mashinsky was waiting for him, with such a look of 
alarm on his face as at once attracted the attention of 
his companion. 

“ What’s up now ? ” he inquired. 

“ Some of the members of our circle tell me that 
Ivan Petromelinsky is in the city looking for us.” 

At the dreaded name his companion’s face assumed 
an even more frightened look than his own. Both 
knew what it was to have such a man on their trail. 

248 


The Land of Drought 

“ Alone? ” asked Mashinsky. 

‘‘ No, that other devil, the Philadelphia detective. 
Blank, is with him, and so is Francksen, who knows the 
emerald.” 

“ Things are getting too hot for us here,” said Ma- 
shinsky. “ What shall we do ? ” 

If those men are on our track we dare not try to 
sell the emerald here or, indeed, anywhere in the 
United States. I would advise that we try to reach 
San Francisco.” 

‘‘ By what route ? ” inquired Mashinsky. 

I think by Salt Lake City ; say by way of Omaha 
and Denver.” 

“ And what would you recommend when we reach 
San Francisco?” 

Take one of the steamers to any Asiatic port; say 
to Tokio, Japan. There we might find some rich 
Japanese fellow able and willing to pay a big price for 
the emerald. What do you think of my plans ? ” 

“ The plans are all right. I see only one objection.” 

“ And that? ” 

Where the money is to come from. You know 
how hard it was for us to reach Chicago, but now we 
must get enough money together not only to get to 
San Francisco, but to pay our passage on some of the 
steamers at that place. But I think I can tell you how it 
can be done,” said Mashinsky. 

“ Let’s hear it,” said Metchiniskoff. I’m afraid it 
will take a brighter fellow than you to make any plan 
raise enough money for this thing.” 

249 


The Land of Drought 

“ Well, then, here is my plan. Sell that turquoise 
ring you stole from the murdered man. I know we 
daren’t go to any jeweler, for if information has been 
lodged about the emerald it will also have been sent 
about the turquoise ring.” 

Then what can we do ? ” said Metchiniskoff, after 
he had endeavored to convince his companion that the 
ring was not in his possession. 

“ Take it to a receiver of stolen goods. Of course 
we’ll get less for it, but he won’t hesitate to purchase.” 

Metchiniskoff saw that the plan proposed by his 
companion was practically the only one by which they 
could hope to get enough money for their purposes. 
They, therefore, made arrangements with one of the 
many criminals in the city who dealt in stolen goods, 
and thus succeeded in obtaining enough money for 
the purchase of through tickets to San Francisco, by 
way of St. Louis, Kansas City, Denver, and Salt Lake 
City. 


250 


CHAPTER XXII 


The Enmeshment. Spreading and Tightening 
THE Net 

''What are you doing, blockhead?” exclaimed Met- 
chiniskoff to Mashinsky as the latter stopped at a little 
shop where curiosities were sold, and, picking out 
several specimens of gold ore, paid five dollars and, 
having them wrapped, placed them in his pocket. 
" If you can’t take better care of our little money you’d 
better let me carry it.” 

The specimens selected included several gold nug- 
gets and an ore consisting of gold combined with other 
chemical elements. These two kinds of specimens are 
known respectively as native gold and smelting ore, 
the latter name being given because, in order to sepa- 
rate the gold, it is necessary to smelt or melt it by ex- 
posure to great heat while surrounded by carbon or 
coke and various substances, called fluxes, that possess 
the power of combining with some of the chemical 
elements. 

" Why are you spending five dollars for that stuff ? ” 
continued his companion in a snarling tone. 

" Cut that growling,” replied Mashinsky in a rage, 
" and leave it to your better to run things. I know 
what Pm about. Even if I don’t sell this stuff for 
many times more than I paid for it, there will be no 

251 


The Land of Drought 

trouble in getting nearly what it cost me at any assay 
office. Good gold minerals like these can always find 
a market.” 

The companionship of the two men had been grow- 
ing more and more unpleasant. Had Metchiniskoff 
been able to do so, he would have parted company with 
Mashinsky long before, but from the time Mashinsky 
had learned of the enormously valuable emerald his 
companion had in his possession, and had extorted the 
reluctant agreement to share with him equally in the 
proceeds of its sale, he had clung to him closely, and 
was unwilling to let him get out of his sight. It is 
true Metchiniskoff might have made a break and gone 
off by himself, but he knew he would thus be taking 
great risks. He did not doubt that Mashinsky would 
do as he threatened and sell him out to the authorities, 
taking the risk of being permitted to go free for 
the information. Their companionship, therefore, 
founded on crime and selfishness, grew more and more 
unpleasant to both. 

Moreover, Metchiniskoff recognized that he could 
hardly blame Mashinsky for acting as he had. For 
when Metchiniskoff had learned that Mashinsky in- 
tended to steal the Blavinski diamonds he insisted on 
being take into the matter on equal shares. Now, 
matters were merely reversed. Moreover, Metchinis- 
koff recognized that his companion was a more accom- 
plished rascal than he, and would, therefore, be the 
better able to take the lead, now they were being so 
closely pressed. 


252 


The Land of Drought 

Nothing of especial moment occurred until they 
reached Denver. Here Mashinsky persuaded his com- 
panion to stop over at Leadville, a mining town in 
western Colorado, for a few days. 

“What’s your lay, Mashinsky?” inquired Met- 
chiniskoff when, on reaching Leadville, his companion 
spent several days wandering around in the neighbor- 
hood of the mining camps in that section of country. 

“ I’m looking for a gold mine,” he said, “ to sell to 
some tenderfoot the first chance I get.” 

“ Doing what ? ” exclaimed his companion in sur- 
prise. Then, remembering the specimens that had 
been bought in Chicago, he exclaimed : “ I understand 
now. You’re a cute one, you are, Mashinsky.” 

“ It is lucky there is one man in this crowd with 
brains,” was the ungracious reply. 

After searching for several days, Mashinsky found 
a locality he thought would suit. It had not been 
covered with mining claims because it contained no 
signs of ore. 

He said to his companion : 

“ Let us return to Leadville and visit some of the 
mining camps in its neighborhood.” 

It is not uncommon in the West to find people from 
the East with no other knowledge about gold mining 
than that the ore is taken from the earth. They gen- 
erally have some hard-earned money with them, often 
the savings of many years. They believe there should 
be no difficulty in picking up a good bargain in the way 
of a gold mine. They seem to forget that while pros- 

253 


The Land of Drought 

pects and claims are common, mines — that is, claims 
that are actually producing gold ores — are far from 
being so; and that when a good property has been 
discovered there are plenty of men, far more intelligent 
than themselves, ready to purchase, who have, more- 
over, the practical knowledge that comes from experi- 
ence. It, therefore, generally happens that the tender- 
foot is fooled, and spends his money for what is little 
other than a hole in the ground. 

Mashinsky had no difficulty in landing a tenderfoot. 
He commenced by showing the beautiful specimens he 
had purchased in Chicago, which he claimed were ob- 
tained from a property he wished to sell. 

“ Is there much of this stuff about the place where 
you say mining claims can be located? ” 

“Lots of it,” was the reply. “ I just picked these 
up lying around. If I had taken the trouble to look 
further there would have been no difficulty in getting 
more, but I knew a bright fellow like you could tell the 
real stuff as soon as he clapped his eyes on it.” 

“Does anybody know about this property?” in- 
quired the tenderfoot. 

“ Here’s a gent who saw it,” said Mashinsky, point- 
ing to Metchiniskoff. 

“ And what do you think of it ? ” inquired the ten- 
derfoot. 

“What do I think of it?” growled Metchiniskoff. 
“ I think,” he said, turning to his companion and an- 
swering him rather than the tenderfoot, “ you are a 
fool to let it go at any figure.” 

254 


The Land of Drought 

The evident playing of the two men into each other’s 
hands should have been sufficient to put the man on 
his guard. Instead, however, of doing this, it only 
made him all the more anxious to purchase. 

The above conversation, and the examination of the 
specimens of gold ore, had attracted the attention of a 
group of three people who were standing near, one of 
whom, leaving his companions, approached the tender- 
foot and said : 

“ Hello, cap ! I reckon these gents hev something 
they want to sell. If ye don’t mind my buttin’ in I’d 
like to hear what ye hev to say.” 

“ I’m offered a wonderful chance of buying a claim, 
or at least of a prospect on which claims can be 
placed, of a very rich deposit of gold.” 

“ Hev ye seed any specimens of thet thar gold ? ” 
Here are some magnificent specimens,” he replied, 
showing the specimens Mashinsky had handed him. 

‘‘ They be good specimens, stranger,” said the man 
to Mashinsky. Did ye get all o’them from the same 
place?” 

‘‘Yes; I found them lying side by side,” was the 
reply. 

“ Be thar much ore thar? ” 

“ Plenty there,” replied Mashinsky, thinking he had 
fooled the man. 

“ Were they all easy to git? ” 

“ Yes; I could just pick them up off the ground.” 

“Don’t you think it must be a great prospect?” 
anxiously inquired the tenderfoot. 

255 


The Land of Drought 

“ I think it be wery remarkable,” said the man, and 
then beckoning to one of the two men with whom he 
had been standing, he cried : 

“ Come here, Schloss, Fll show you a great chance 
for investing yer money.” 

The man addressed as Schloss approached. On 
hearing about the matter, he said: 

“ Let’s see the specimens.” He evidently was accus- 
tomed to examining ore; for, after having looked at 
both with the eye and with a pocket-glass he re- 
marked : “ They are both very rich. These nuggets,” 
he continued, “ have been carried a great distance. 
See how rounded they are. All the sharp corners have 
been worn off long ago. As for the other,” he said, 
pointing to the specimens of smelting ore, this is also 
very rich. If the prospect contains much of this stuff 
it ought to make a good mine.” 

“ But, Schloss,” exclaimed the man who had called 
him, and giving him a peculiar look, “ what would ye 
say if I told ye thet the stranger who offers the pros- 
pect fer sale says thet these specimens come from the 
same identical place ? ” 

“ I should say there was something wrong,” was 
the reply. “ Tliey are entirely different ores that are 
never found together. One is a placer gold, and has 
been taken from some good gravel ; the other is a smelt- 
ing ore, and has come from a fissure vein or lode. 
See,” he said, pointing to a part of the specimen, “ this 
is a bit of the country rock in which the fissure vein 
or lode is situated.” 


256 


The Land of Drought 

“ But it's rich stuff, is it not? ” inquired Mashinsky, 
seeing he had made a mistake. 

‘‘ It’s rich enough,” said the man, and then calling 
to the lad who had been standing with him, cried: 

Come here, Emil, I want to show you a curiosity.” 
And then turning to Mashinsky, he said : ‘‘You have 
heard me say that I do not believe these specimens 
came from the same place. I’m going to ask this lad, 
who has not been long in this part of the country, what 
he thinks about it” 

When Emil approached, his uncle remarked: 

“ This man, Emil,” pointing to Mashinsky, “ says 
that both of these specimens came from the same pros- 
pect Do you think that’s probable ? ” 

“ That would be impossible, uncle,” replied the lad. 
“ This,” pointing to the specimen of smelting ore, “ is 
calaverite, a compound of gold and tellurium ; the other 
is a nugget of gold that came from a placer. These 
two kinds of gold ore never come together.” 

“ What does a kid like you know about such 
things ? ” said Mashinsky with an oath. “ Keep that 
mouth of yours shut, or Til stop it with my fist.” 

The man who had called the elder Schloss said noth- 
ing, but drew a revolver from his hip pocket suggest- 
ively. 

The man called Schloss was Emil’s uncle. The lad 
was Emil. The assay office was situated in Leadville. 
The two had visited the mining camp, at which the 
above occurrences took place, in order to arrange for 
some work. This was the Emil who was one of the 

257 


R 


The Land of Drought 

chums of Robert, Happy, and Norman, and in whose 
cellar laboratory the lads had such great times. 

Mashinsky had been standing with his back to Emil, 
so that neither had recognized tlie other; while Met- 
chiniskoff had been too much interested in what was 
going on, and had kept his eyes on the tenderfoot. 
When, however, they heard the lad’s opinion and en- 
deavored to frighten him off, they turned to the lad. 
The recognition was almost instantaneous. 

‘‘ The kid who was in Francksen’s shop on the day I 
was fired ! ” exclaimed Mashinsky in a low tone to Met- 
chiniskoff. 

The kid who gave us so much trouble in Fair- 
mount Park!” said Metchiniskoff. 

‘‘ Mashinsky and Metchiniskoff I ” exclaimed Emil. 

Emil had never told his uncle about the theft of the 
diamonds, nor anything about Mashinsky or Met- 
chiniskoff. His uncle did not, therefore, understand 
the meaning of the above exclamations. He therefore 
turned to Emil, and simply said: 

“ You have not yet told me what conclusion you 
have reached. This man says that both of these speci- 
mens were taken by him from a prospect he wishes to 
sell. Would you advise him to purchase?” This he 
only did to test the judgment of the lad. 

I would advise the gentleman to have nothing to 
do either with the prospect or with these men,” was 
the reply. “ The specimens never came from the same 
mine, and, moreover, I know these men to be thieves 
and fugitives from justice.” 

258 


The Land of Drought 

But before Emil had finished speaking, Mashinsky 
and Metchiniskoff, seeing that all was up, managed to 
escape in the crowd of people who collected around 
them as soon as excited, angry voices were heard. 

“ Help me arrest those men,’' said Mr. Schloss to 
those standing around him as soon as he understood 
the matter. 

But the men had disappeared, nor were they after- 
ward heard from for some time. 

But let us now return to the detectives and their 
party who, as we have seen, had reached Chicago. 

“ What have you learned, Ivan ? ” inquired Blank 
when his colleague returned from spending much of 
the day in the city. The two men had arranged to 
see what information they could obtain concerning the 
fugitives. 

Look at this,” replied Ivan, handing Blank a beau- 
tiful turquoise ring. 

‘^What! the ring?” exclaimed Blank. 

“ Yes, the ring stolen from the murdered man,” 
replied Petromelinsky. The detective department 
here has aided me considerably in a search I have been 
making among the receivers of stolen goods. This 
ring was disposed of only four days ago at a fence 
in the city. The fellow who bought it was so fright- 
ened when he learned it had been stolen from the body 
of a murdered man in St. Petersburg, and that the 
Czar had sent detectives to arrest the thieves and the 
murderer, that he agreed to give up the ring for half 

259 


The Land of Drought 

of what it had cost him. I could have forced him to 
do this, but thought it best to pay for it.’' 

Wasn’t the cost pretty steep ? ” inquired Blank. 

“ No,” was the reply. It seems the fellow stuck 
the two men, and paid half of what they asked in coun- 
terfeit money. Of course,” continued Ivan Petrome- 
linsky, “ as soon as the men got money they left Chi- 
cago. What we must endeavor to discover is in what 
direction they left.” 

'' I can tell you that, Ivan,” exclaimed Blank in an 
excited manner. It squares up exactly with informa- 
tion I picked up while laying around the railroad sta- 
tions. I learned from a man formerly in my employ 
in Philadelphia, but now acting as an officer in one of 
the large railroad stations, that about three days ago 
two men, whose general description agrees with Ma- 
shinsky and Metchiniskoff, kicked up a row at the 
ticket office when they were informed that much of the 
money they offered in payment for their tickets was 
counterfeit.” 

“ Of course you made inquiries as to the point for 
which they purchased these tickets?” 

“ Sure,” replied Blank ; “ the tickets were for Salt 
Lake City, by way of St. Louis, Omaha, Kansas City, 
and Denver.” 

“ Of course you know that those fellows may change 
their route at any time. Where do you think they are 
bound for ? They certainly do not intend to stop over 
at Salt Lake City.” 

‘‘ No, I reckon they are bound for San Francisco, 
260 


The Land of Drought 

from which place they will probably take a steamer to 
some port in Asia/’ 

When the party reached St. Louis they found a 
telegram awaiting Francksen at the Planters’ Hotel. 
It contained an account of Emil meeting Mashinsky 
and Metchiniskoff at the camp at Leadville. 

Francksen had read the telegram to himself, and 
was about repeating it to the detectives, when they 
said : 

‘‘ Don’t trouble yourself, Francksen, we have read 
it. By the way, when you open telegrams in a public 
place always be sure that no one is standing near you.” 

‘‘ Things are coming our way. Blank,” said Pe- 
tromelinsky in a pleased tone. ‘‘ The enmeshment of 
these scoundrels is going on satisfactorily. We will 
soon tighten the net and have them in our grasp.” 


CHAPTER XXIII 


The Ship of the Desert 

Though the cheerful, sunny disposition of Happy ^ 
enabled him to bear up uncomplainingly under his en- 
forced quiet, yet his companions, who knew how hard 
it must be for an active lad to lie on the broad of his 
back day after day, were with him as much as pos- 
sible, trying to make the time pass pleasantly. Nor 
was this unselfish attention unrewarded. The lad was 
so bright and cheerful that he never failed to do his 
full part in making the visits pleasant. He was so 
much interested in what the boys and the older men 
had to tell him, that they found his company exceed- 
ingly agreeable. Happy’s bed of hemlock branches 
was, therefore, the place in camp to which all resorted 
whenever the opportunity offered. 

Mr. Christian and the professor were absent the 
greater part of the day engaged in professional work 
in the neighborhood. The three men. Bill, Sam, and 
Awake-in-the-Night, had become greatly attached to 
Happy, and spent much of their time in his company. 

Of course, Rob and Norman were much with 
Happy, but their opportunities for pursuing their 
favorite studies in the field were so great, that Happy 
unselfishly insisted on their leaving him much of the 
time. 


262 


The Lemd of Drought 

When you come back you can tell me what you 
have seen and learned,” he said, ‘‘ and I can learn a 
good deal in that way myself.” 

Colorado Bill was especially fond of what he called 
“ whinnying ” with Happy. Although Awake-in-the- 
Night had charge of the horses. Bill, who was es- 
pecially well up in these animals, had been requested by 
Mr. Christian and the professor to keep a general look- 
out on their condition. 

There was always more or less to be done in look- 
ing after the horses and burros, so that both men were 
kept fairly busy in the early morning. Bill, however, 
generally managed to spend an hour or two with the 
lad before dinner. 

During these visits Happy managed to get con- 
siderable information from his old friend and teacher. 
Though an uneducated man. Bill was wise as to 
animals in general, and horses in particular. Indeed, 
concerning the latter animals, he had a stock of knowl- 
edge that came from intimate contact with them, a 
knowledge far more reliable than that obtained from 
books. 

Happy always looked with great pleasure for Bill’s 
visits. One morning, however, he came later than 
usual. 

‘‘ Morning, Bill,” said Happy. Tm mighty glad 
to see you. What tethered you? ” 

Some of them pesky burros got unhobbled, and 
we had a tarnation sarch afore we found ’em. How- 
sumever, we located them at last and here I be.” 

263 


The Land of Drought 

You’re as welcome, Bill,” said Happy, as water 
is to the thirsty plants of the desert.” 

Hello, Hap ! ” said Bill, breakin’ out in potry, 
ain’t ye? Well, I sorter like ter hear ye talk thet way 
now and then. I say. Hap, it must be awful mean fer 
a lively chap like you to be hobbled in bed, whin ye 
might be trottin’ around on your mount. Thar be a 
big lot around here thet pays a feller well to look at.” 

“ It might be worse. Bill,” said Happy in a cheerful 
tone. It’s almost worth being what you call ‘ hob- 
bled ’ to find by experience how kind every one in the 
camp is to me.” 

Bill evidently did not wish his friend to dwell any 
further on his kindness, so, in an endeavor to lead the 
conversation in some other direction, he said: 

Of course ye know what I mean by hobbled ? ” 

‘‘ Sure,” said Happy. ** It’s what you do to a burro 
or a horse to keep them from straying far in the night.” 

Thet’s what I mean. Hap,” was the reply. ‘‘ Ez ye 
know, here in the desert a feller’s life depends on his 
boss. Many a man is now lyin’ under three or four 
feet of earth a’cause he forgot to keep his mount from 
wandering in the night. Ez ye know, a feller hez to 
hev a lot of stuff a-took across the desert — too big a 
load to tote around himself. Ef he loses his mount he’s 
a’most as much as lost his life.” 

“ I know. Bill,” said Happy. There is nothing in 
the West that gives a man a better chance for being 
strung up, or filled with lead, than to steal a horse.” 

“Ye be right. Hap,” replied Bill; “and ye must 
264 


The Land of Drought 

acknowledge thet it’s a sort of natural to do so. It’s an 
onery thing to run off with a feller’s mount. Often it 
would be kinder to kill him to once.” 

You’re talking straight, Bill,” said Happy. A 
horse is as necessary to one’s life on a desert, or in an 
unsettled country, as a ship is on the ocean. Stealing 
the ship and throwing the people overboard is gener- 
ally worse than cutting their throats, is it not? ” 

I reckon ye be correct thar. Hap,” said Bill. 

Bill,” said Happy, do you know that for the last 
few days I have had a caller when I was otherwise 
all alone.” 

“ Do ye mean thet strengers hev called on ye, my 
lad? Thet beant safe at all.” 

“ O Bill, there’s not much danger. I always have 
this thing handy,” he said, showing a revolver. ‘‘ I 
could make it talk for me if any stranger was trouble- 
some.” 

‘‘ I reckon ye be right thar,” replied Bill grinning. 

But what do ye mean? Tell me quick.” 

One of our burros comes here now nearly every 
day,” replied the lad, laughing to think he had fooled 
Bill. ** He is always cute enough to wait until neither 
you nor any one else is around.” 

‘‘ Oh, I savvy now,” said Bill grinning. I thought 
at fust ye meant some man. Ye hev been talkin’ nice 
to the burro, ain’t ye ? ” 

‘‘ Yes, if this is talking nice,” replied Happy, point- 
ing to some oats he had in a bag near him. I say. 
Bill, you know people often call each other a donkey, 
265 


The Land of Drought 

or a jackass, when they wish to say how foolishly they 
have acted. Now, you’re up on donkeys, jackasses, 
and burros. Don’t you think this is a mistake? It 
seems to me all our burros — especially the one that 
comes to visit me — are very bright.” 

Yer be right thar. Hap,” said Bill grinning. 
“ Burros be no fools. They are wery cute in gettin’ 
what they wants. I hev seen a many of them, and 
could tell ye some stories about the queer things they 
do. 

Ef ye leave any feed around,” continued Bill, in 
answer to Happy’s request that he tell him some of 
these stories, “ them critters will be sure to git it, 
’Pears like as if they hed sense enough when they’re 
stealing to try to cover up their tracks. Once, when 
I was leading a party across New Mexico, we stopped 
at a ranch whar we heerd tell they were hevin’ con- 
siderable trouble with their oats disappearin’ mys- 
terious like. They had been keeping the oats in a rab- 
bit-house. They knowed the thief war a four-footed 
beast, mebbe a jackass or burro, sence they could see 
its tracks, but couldn’t squar it up at fust how the 
critter could get in from the outside. Thar war two 
gates leadin’ to the rabbit-house, and these war alius 
found fastened with a loop over the posts. 

They kep a watch,” continued Bill, “ and war as- 
tonished to find the thief war a pet burro kept by the 
children. Now, Hap, you may think I be drawin’ the 
long bow, but what I am tellin’ ye is true. They seed 
thet critter unfasten the loop of them gates what 
266 


The Land of Drought 

fenced the rabbit-house, steal into the place whar the 
oats war kep, undo the chist, eat all he felt he could 
hold — and thet war a lot — and then afore leavin’ put 
back both loops, so as to leave everything shut. Now, 
thar war no chance about what the critter did. It 
war simple straight thinkin’; fer in leavin’ the rabbit- 
house the critter must hev been obliged to back out.” 

That’s a very interesting story. Bill,” said Happy. 
“ You couldn’t call that burro a jackass.” 

Not if ye meant he war stupid,” was the reply. 

Which animal do you think is the greater help on 
the desert. Bill, a horse or a burro ? ” inquired Happy. 

‘‘ My choice would be a burro every time,” was the 
reply. ‘‘Ye see. Hap, in the fust place burros air 
wery intelligent, wery patient, and if ye be kind to 
them, wery reliable. They kin scent out water in a 
dry country better’n most men I know. Several times 
my burro smelled it and saved my life when I had 
given it up. 

“ I don’t mean,” continued Bill, “ thet burros heven’t 
bad pints about ’em. At times they kin be onery, as 
onery as a greaser. Do ye savvy? ” 

Apparently not desiring to stop Bill’s flow of talk. 
Happy simply grinned and nodded, as if to indicate that 
he did savvy. 

“ The things,” continued Bill, “ what these critters 
will do at times be calculated to make a feller express 
himself in language he didn’t larn in church. They’ll 
sneak off the trail, and hide in the dark, leave you to 
look arter them, and act generally as though they 
267 


The Land of Drought 

war enjoyin’ themselves acause ye warn’t able to find 
them. 

Howsumever,” continued Bill, ‘‘ treat the critter 
kindly. When ye kin, give him oats three times a day, 
and generally thar’ll be no trouble in his turning up 
at meal times. Then,” continued Bill, these critters 
kin live on a’most anything. They kin eat plants, 
cactuses, and things what few other animals will touch. 
They kin git along without water fer a greater time 
than most any other beast. Yes,” he added, as if think- 
ing the matter over, “ ef I was crossin’ the desert and 
hed to take a chice between a boss and a burro, my 
chice would be the burro every time.” 

Then the burro,” exclaimed Happy, “ is the true 
ship of the desert.” 

I think I see what yer gettin’ at, Hap,” said Bill 
after a pause, as if he was wrestling with what his 
young friend had said. ‘‘Ye mean thet this critter is 
the ship what carries a traveler across the desert; thet 
to leave a feller there without his burro or boss would 
be like pitching him into the water without a boat.” 

“Yes, that’s part of what I mean,” replied Happy; 
“ but I was thinking most of the camel, an animal that 
is called the ‘ ship of the desert ’ in the Sahara, and 
the other great deserts in Northern Africa and Arabia. 
I have often wondered. Bill,” continued the lad, “ since 
we have been out here, why they have not brought 
camels for use in place of burros. Do you know 
whether this has ever been done ? ” 

“ The thing war tried. Hap,” replied Bill, “ but 
268 


The Land of Drought 

afore my time. It was as early as 1855. I once acted 
as guide across New Mexico for a scientific gent from 
the East. Most of thet country, as ye know, be desert. 
The gentleman war well up on animals and told me 
many yarns about their try in’ to use camels on this 
here desert and elsewhar. It ’pears thet the govern- 
ment fellers, down in Washington, put up money fer 
fetchin’ thirty-three camels from Afriky. Nine of 
these war dromedaries, or runners, and the other 
twenty-four were just ordinary camels.” 

Bill went on to say in his way, which we will take 
the liberty of putting in better English, that when the 
camels were brought to a certain part of Texas, the 
people living in the neighborhood of the desert were 
by no means enthusiastic in their reception. They had 
a liking for the old burros, and looked unkindly on the 
strangers. They gravely doubted that such ungainly 
beasts could carry a heavy burden, and when one of the 
United States Army men, who had the animals in 
charge, sent for one of the best of the herd, and com- 
manded it to kneel and had it loaded with two bales of 
hay, each weighing over three hundred pounds, they 
looked on in scorn. They were sure the animal could 
never rise with such a load. But they howled in de- 
rision when the officer ordered two more bales to be 
placed alongside the others. The animal, now loaded 
with one thousand two hundred and fifty-six pounds, 
to the astonishment of all, when so ordered, easily rose 
and walked off with his heavy burden. 

When the government determined to open a wagon 
269 


The Land of Drought 

road from Fort Defiance, N. Mex., to the eastern fron- 
tiers of California, a part of this herd of camels was 
placed at the disposal of one of the officers. The ex- 
pedition was forty-eight days in laying out the route 
through an unexplored wilderness, much of which was 
desert. The behavior of the camels was so satisfactory 
that it excited the admiration of the entire party. 
When on the desert they carried water for the burros, 
and were able to cross stretches of country covered 
with sharp bits of lava without any injury to their 
feet. Though heavily loaded, they could climb moun- 
tains so steep that the unloaded burros could scarcely 
scale them, even with the help of their dismounted 
riders. 

A peculiarity of the camel that should be regarded 
as an advantage was one of the objections raised 
against those first brought into the Colorado Desert. 
This is their fairly great speed. When they strayed 
away, as of course they would when not properly fas- 
tened for the night, their keepers were often obliged to 
search for them over distances sometimes as great as 
twenty-five or thirty miles. 


$ 


270 


CHAPTER XXIV 


Happy and Rob Astonish Awake-in-the-Nigiit 

Happy humorously called the days his friends visited 
him his ‘‘ reception days,” assuring them that they ex- 
tended throughout the day and night. 

‘‘ Come any time,” he said, and you’ll be sure to 
find me in.” 

Shortly after Bill’s long visit, referred to in the last 
chapter, Sam brought Happy something he evidently 
regarded as extremely valuable. It was a live desert 
tortoise. 

Happy, who had never seen one of these animals be- 
fore, could not help laughing at its odd appearance. 
Although it can hide its head and claws completely 
inside its hard shell, yet when Sam placed it on the 
ground near Happy’s bed, instead of being frightened, 
it began leisurely examining the different articles while 
slowly walking with an exceedingly clumsy gait. 

“ What is it good for, Sam ? ” inquired Happy. 

“ Velly good to eat,” grinned the Chinese, at the 
same time rubbing his stomach. ‘‘ Sam cook it. Boil 
it in pot.” 

What do you call it. Bill ? ” inquired Happy of 
his friend who had just dropped in. 

“ The critter be called the desert tortoise. Sam is 
right when he says it is fit for the pot. I hev eaten 
271 


The Land of Drought 

them several times, and they beat a’most anything thet 
kin be got, either on this desert or anywhar else.” 

The animal that Sam had brought to Happy was 
nearly a foot in length, and nine inches in breadth. 

When Sam left the room to prepare the animal for 
cooking. Bill gave Happy some interesting accounts of 
its habits. Among other things, he told him that the 
popular belief concerning the slowness of the tortoise 
has but little foundation in fact, since it could run at 
a pace of a mile an hour and keep it up for half a day ; 
and that, moreover, when necessary it could put on a 
spurt. 

“ This critter, like the camel,” said Bill, “ when it 
gets a chance, kin lay up water and live on it long arter- 
wards. Tve never seen it myself, but Tve heard tell 
thet it is able to live a-many days without any other 
water than what it hez laid in ; that if a feller be caught 
in the desert without water, ef he would take the trou- 
ble to cut up one of these animals he would find good, 
clear water stored away in a little bag on the back of 
the animal underneath the shell.” Before leaving this 
subject, I may add that the shell of the desert tortoise 
is marked with blackish-brown on the top and is lighter 
colored below. A curious extension of the under shell, 
on which the head and neck rest, and over which they 
slide in and out, is employed by the animal in its 
movements over the uneven surfaces of the desert. 
When traveling over rocks, where it is necessary that 
the animal frequently drop from a higher to a lower 
level, it employs this extension as follows: When it 
272 


The Land of Drought 

reaches a high place it moves to the edge, shoves the 
shell as far over as possible, and then, by a few vigor- 
ous pushes, throws itself over. In falling, it strikes 
against the front of the extension instead of on its 
head, and thus avoids breaking its neck. 

The dainty meal that Sam prepared from the tortoise 
was greatly enjoyed by all the camp, for Happy in-, 
sisted on each eating a morsel. It, therefore, caused 
considerable talk. Jealousy exists among uncivilized 
nations as well as others, and Awake-in-the-Night 
was smitten by the green-eyed monster; for as Bill 
afterward informed Happy, he said to him: 

“ Awake-in-the-Night go bring Smile-on-his-Face 
more wonderful thing than tortoise. You wait and 
see,” he added, going to one of the packs that were 
carried with the other things on the burros. 

Anxious to see what the Indian was about to carry 
as an offering to Happy, Bill watched him as he col- 
lected several articles together and proudly took them 
with him to the place where Happy was lying. 

Approaching the lad, the Indian said : 

“ Awake-in-the-Night bring Smile-on-his-Face some- 
thing heap more wonderful than tortoise. Good to 
eat,” and then presented the lad with a bunch of some- 
thing that resembled a bunch of grapes, at least so far 
as their clustering was concerned. 

“What do you call these, Awake-in-the-Night?” 
inquired Happy; for, to the Indian’s great delight, it 
was evidently something the lad had never seen before, 
and in which he was, therefore, greatly interested. 

273 


s 


The Land of Drought 

Awake-in-the-Night explained to the lad in his 
broken English, that what he had brought were dates 
that grew on one of the wild date palms of the desert. 
These dates, however, were not the luscious fruit I 
imagine is so well known to nearly all the readers of 
this book. They were more like coffee berries, and 
consisted mainly of stones with a thin coating of a 
sweet, fruitlike material. 

As Happy afterward learned, these berries, that 
were about the size of coffee beans, when beaten into a 
coarse powder, in a rough stone mortar, are relished by 
the Indian rather as a change of diet than for any other 
reason. 

Happy obtained considerable information from the 
Indian as to the date-palm tree of the desert. Among 
other things, he learned that at a certain time every 
year it was customary for the Indians to set lire to 
the dried leaves at the top of the tree ; that in this way 
the fruit became larger and sweeter. 

• ‘‘ The date palm differs greatly in its growth from 
the cactus,” said the professor, as he took this matter 
up. “ The cactus can apparently thrive in the driest 
parts of the desert. The date palm, however, as the 
Arabs say, ‘ grows with its feet in water and its head 
in the fire.’ This is an allusion to the fact that the 
tree thrives only where there is a fairly good supply of 
water, as in oases or on irrigated lands.” 

After Awake-in-the-Night had finished talking, en- 
joying, as he did, the marked pleasure his present had 
given Happy, he said in an important tone: 

274 


The Land of Drought 

“ Smile-on-his-Face so liked black rock Awake-in- 
the-Night gave him many suns ago that he bring him 
heap more,” handing him several specimens of the gold 
ore similar to those already referred to. 

Bill had left Happy with the Indian when the con- 
versation about the date-palm tree came to a close. 
Indeed, it looked as if he had purposely waited until 
Bill had left before he brought out the specimens of 
gold ore. 

Awake-in-the-Night had no reason to be disap- 
pointed by the effect produced on the lad when he 
received this second gift. 

“ You’re a great fellow, Awake-in-the-Night,” said 
Happy. ‘‘ Where do you find this stuff? ” 

“ Awake-in-the-Night heap great,” replied the In- 
dian, pleased with the compliment. He get it over 
there,” pointing to the northwest. “ Not far, but no 
tell.” 

“And you say there’s plenty of it?” 

“ Very much heap,” replied the Indian. “ But me 
no tell where,” and with that, not wishing to be 
further questioned, he left. 

“ Look here, Rob,” said Happy to his friend, who 
came in about an hour afterward, “ what do you think 
of this ? ” handing him one of the specimens of black 
gold ore. 

“ Where did you get it. Happy ? ” inquired Rob. 
“ It’s the same stuff Awake-in-the-Night brought you 
the other day.” 

“ Yes,” said Happy ; “ he gave it to me. As you say, 
2/5 


The Land of Drought 

it agrees with the kind of ore that is said to have been 
obtained from Pegleg Smith’s lost gold mine. By 
the way,” he added, do you happen to know where 
Smith Mountain is? You remember this is the name 
given to the mountain near the three buttes, or low 
hills, on one of which is the place where the lost mine 
is said to have been.” 

“ I was asking Bill about it yesterday,” replied Rob. 

It is two days to the northwest.” 

‘‘ That’s the direction in which Awake-in-the-Night 
pointed when he said, ‘ heaps over there.’ Sit down, 
Rob, I want to have a long talk with you.” 

I think I can guess what you want to speak about. 
Happy,” said Rob. 

“Make your guess,” said Happy; “I’ll tell you 
true.” 

“ You wish to talk about two things,” said Rob. 
“ One is the white captives of the Indians, and the 
other is Pegleg Smith’s lost gold mine.” 

“ Good guess,” said Happy. 

“ But wait a moment,” said Rob, “ I’m not through. 
You believe that these two things are connected with 
one another and, especially, with my missing rela- 
tives.” 

“ You’re a bright boy, Rob,” said Happy. “ I see 
you’ve been thinking. You’re right,” he continued, 
“ that’s just what I want to talk about. I think the 
chances are that Awake-in-the-Night knows more of 
the Pegleg Smith mine, as well as about the two white 
captives, than he cares to talk about.” 

276 



“ ‘ Do you believe in dreams, Awake-in- 
the-Night?’ inquired Happy” 

Page 277 





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The Land of Drought 

“ He knows either about the Pegleg Smith mine or 
some other,” said Rob, ‘‘ in which, just how I know 
not, my grandfather and father were, and I hope are 
still, interested. But you have evidently reasoned this 
out for yourself. You say you want to talk to me 
about it. Well, here I am; so go ahead. You will 
have no reason to complain of my want of attention.” 

You must have seen, Rob,” said Happy, “ that 
Awake-in-the-Night has become greatly attached both 
to you and me. If we can manage to get him talking 
sometime about these things, when no one else is 
around, I think we might be able to surprise him into 
telling us something about them. Let’s agree, the first 
opportunity we get, to ask him whether he believes in 
dreams. Then I will ask you to tell' him your dream, 
and possibly I may have one of my own to add to 
yours.” 

What ! ” exclaimed Rob in surprise. “ Have you 
been dreaming too ? ” 

“ Don’t ask me now,” was the reply. I will tell 
you afterward.” 

Though the Indian made several calls after the 
above conversation when Rob was present, the boys 
said nothing. They waited for a time when no one 
else was present, and no one was apt to interrupt 
them by calling. 

An opportunity at last presented itself, and the boys 
soon had the Indian chatting freely with them. 

‘‘Do you believe in dreams, Awake-in-the-Night?” 
inquired Happy. 


277 


The Land of Drought 

‘‘ A wake-in- the-Night believes in dreams,” was the 
reply. “ Great Spirit comes in the night and whispers 
in Indian’s ear things he is going to do. You believe 
in dreams ? ” he inquired, suddenly turning to Happy. 

“ Sure,” said Happy. Spirits whisper in white 
boy’s ears things he could never hear of otherwise. 
Rob,” he said, turning to his friend, Awake-in-the- 
Night might care to hear the wonderful dream you 
had. Would you not? ” he inquired of the Indian. 

“ Awake-in-the-Night would like to hear dream of 
young white medicine lad.” 

“ Many weeks ago,” began Rob, “ near the big 
ocean on the East, thousands of miles from here, a 
spirit was sent from some place there,” pointing to the 
northwest, that said to white lad, ‘ I tell you great 
secret.’ ” 

When Rob pointed toward the northwest, and spoke 
of a spirit having been sent from that region almost 
across the great continent to the Atlantic, he was evi- 
dently disturbed, but wishing to know what the mes- 
sage had been, he simply said : 

What did spirit say to white lad ? ” 

“ The spirit said, ‘ White lad, go to sleep and I will 
speak much to you.’ So I slept, and the spirit made 
me dream. I thought I had come across the country 
between the great ocean on the East and this place and 
entered the desert. One night, while I was sleeping in 
camp, the spirit came and spoke in my ear, ' Get on 
your horse.’ I did this and rode many miles with great 
speed toward the northwest. At last I saw, near a 
278 


The Land of Drought 

high mountain, three mesas; one, unlike any of the 
others, was covered with trees and shrubs. I said, 
‘ White lad will climb to top to see where the water 
comes from.’ I tried to do this, but could not reach 
the top because the walls on every side were steep. 

While riding around the mesa I saw two white 
men standing on top near the edge. They were my 
grandfather and father. The men beckoned to me to 
come quickly to them, and called out, saying that 
unless I came quickly it would be too late. The spirit 
that led me told me again to ride around the mesa, 
and this I did. At last I saw on one side of the 
mesa an arroya that had escaped my attention when 
I first rode around it. I dismounted from my horse 
and climbed up its side. A good-sized stream of water 
was pouring through the arroya, and on each of its 
sides were date palms. The same kind,” he added, 
giving the Indian a significant look, “ you brought 
back with you from the place where you got the black 
gold ore.” 

“ Awake-in-the-Night no tell white lad he got dates 
from the place where heap gold ore is.” 

Oh, perhaps I am mistaken,” said Rob. I must 
have been thinking of something else.” 

‘‘ Yes, white lad thinking of something else. Awake- 
in-the-Night no tell him that. You dream anything 
else ? ” he inquired anxiously. 

‘‘ Yes,” was the reply, “ I remember it was good 
water that flowed down the arroya, and instead of 
flowing over the plain disappeared in a hole in the 
279 


The Land of Drought 

ground, that must have been a kind of cavern, or cave ; 
for I thought I could hear the water falling against the 
ground below.” 

Awake-in-the-Night was now greatly excited. It 
was evident his young friend had been told by the 
spirits more about a certain place than he, the Indian, 
wished him to know. 

Sometimes dreams heap nonsense,” he said. 
“ This dream heap nonsense. Plenty of water on top 
of mesa foolish. Why there no water around foot of 
mesa ? ” he inquired. 

“ Because it fell into cave,” replied Rob. 

“White lad dream anything else?” inquired the 
Indian in a still more anxious voice. 

“ I tried all I could to climb the walls of the arroya 
and thus reach the summit.” 

“ White lad reach top ? ” inquired the Indian. 

“No,” was the reply; “at that moment the sun 
rose and the spirit, saying to me, ‘ Too late now,’ dis- 
appeared and I awoke. What do you think of that 
dream, Awake-in-the-Night?” added Rob. 

“ Dream heap nonsense. No spirit. White lad 
fooled,” and then endeavored to change the conversa- 
tion to something else. 

But this was contrary to the plans Happy had 
formed, so he said : 

“ Listen, Awake-in-the-Night, and I will tell you a 
day dream I had.” 

“ Awake-in-the-Night no understand day dream. 
What is day dream ? ” 


280 


The Land of Drought 

Without answering his question, the lad continued : 

‘‘ The other day while lying here on my bed I 
dreamed that the same spirit who had visited Rob came 
and whispered in my ear, ‘ Follow me.’ Though 
awake, I thought I followed him to the place where 
the three mesas were to be seen. Remembering what 
I had heard about the mesa whose top was covered 
with trees and shrubs, I walked around it until I came 
to the arroya. The water was still flowing through the 
channel, and I could hear it pounding against the floor 
of the cave below. I could see enough to know that 
there was a great cave there, but I especially wished to 
reach the top of the mesa. It was hard climbing, but 
I at last succeeded in getting very near the top where 
I discovered a place with great quantities of this black 
ore you gave to me. As I was picking up some of this 
ore I heard some one call to me in English.” 

What did English man say? ” inquired the Indian. 

Unfortunately,” said Happy, ‘‘ at that moment I 
awoke. What do you say to that dream? ” 

‘‘ Heap more foolish than other dream,” was the 
reply. Awake-in-the-Night tired sitting still. Take 
long walk,” leaving the tent. 

Watch where he goes, Rob,” said Happy, but 
don’t let him know you’re watching.” 

After a while Rob returned and said: 

“ He mounted his horse and rode toward the north- 
west. Did you really dream what you told the 
Indian?” 

No,” was the reply; as I told him, it was a day 


The Lcind of Drought 

dream. It came to me as I was thinking about differ- 
ent things and putting them together. You noticed 
how the man behaved, did you not? ” he added. 

“ I did, and am convinced that what both you and I 
told him came nearer the truth than pleased him. 
However, we shall see. I believe something will come 
of this.” f 

If it does,” said Happy, you see I am right in be- 
lieving the accident that happened to me was a wonder- 
ful piece of good luck.” 


28:3 


CHAPTER XXV 


The Mesa of the Dream 

Awake-in-the-Night knows more about this mat- 
ter than he is willing to tell, don’t you think so, 
Happy ? ” said Rob, after he had returned and reported 
the Indian as mounting his horse and riding toward 
the northwest. 

'' I’m sure of it,” said Happy. 

‘‘ Don’t you now think. Happy,” inquired Rob, 
‘‘ that there is more in my dream than seemed probable 
at first? I mean, does it not seem that there is a rich 
gold deposit, a mesa, an arroya, skirted by date palms, 
and possibly white prisoners ? ” 

Perhaps some of them if not all, Rob,” said Happy; 
“ and yet ” 

But without waiting for Happy to stop talking, Rob 
inquired anxiously: 

You surely do not think there is nothing in my 
dream, do you. Happy ? ” 

Not at all,” was the reply. ‘‘ Let me explain just 
how the thing seems to me. It is clear that there is 
a rich deposit of gold ore in the neighborhood. You 
remember that when Awake-in-the-Night left camp, 
shortly after I met with the accident, he came back 
bringing specimens that we believed he got while 
away. Now this place was evidently at some distance 
283 


The Land of Drought 

from our camp; for both man and horse were nearly 
exhausted. Then too, if we can believe what Awake- 
in-the-Night told us, there are date palms growing 
somewhere near the place where he obtained the nug- 
gets. This much is clear, is it not ? ” 

“ Quite clear,” said Rob, ‘‘ but go on. Did you 
see how greatly astonished he was when I described 
the appearance of the mesa, the arroya, and the white 
people on the top.” 

“ He was surprised, all right,” said Happy, espe- 
cially when you mentioned the date palms. Now don’t 
misunderstand me, Rob; I believe there is something 
the Indian knows and wishes to keep secret that is about 
a big day’s journey toward the northwest. It may 
only be a rich placer deposit; but it looks to me as if 
there were other things on the top of that mesa the 
knowledge of which the Indian also wishes to keep 
to himself. Whether they include white prisoners, I 
cannot say. Do you not think we should tell the pro- 
fessor and Mr. Christian about all this ? ” 

'‘Yes,” said Rob; " this is about the time for their 
return to camp. Til go and see if I can find them and 
bring them here.” 

" Happy, Robert tells me that you have something 
important to tell us,” said the professor shortly after- 
ward to the lad. 

Believing that the explanation would be a long 
one, the two gentlemen seated themselves by Happy’s 
bed, saying: 

" Now, then, let’s hear whatever you have to say.” 

284 


The Land of Drought 

He began by telling how Sam had brought him the 
well-cooked desert tortoise, and of Awake-in-the- 
Night’s apparent jealousy because Happy appeared so 
interested in it, and how the Indian, claiming he had 
something far more interesting, had gone to his pack 
and brought a handful of wild dates and the additional 
specimens of black gold nuggets; that while he was 
unwilling to tell where these nuggets were obtained, he 
claimed there were plenty more at the same place, and 
that it was somewhere toward the northwest ; the dates 
he said were from the same locality. He then ex- 
plained how excited he had become when Rob told him 
his dream, and his evident relief when Rob assured 
him that he awoke before reaching the top of a little 
arroya, or canon, leading to the top of the mesa. 

“ Although these things greatly disturbed him,” 
said Rob, ‘‘ his excitement was nothing compared to 
that he had when Happy related his dream.” 

“ What, another dream,” .exclaimed Mr. Christian 
with a smile. “ Have you been going into the dream- 
ing business. Happy?” 

I thought you slept too soundly for that,” said 
the professor. 

‘‘ I don’t dream often, sir,” replied Happy laughing. 
“ Mine was a day dream. I put what Rob had told the 
Indian along with some conclusions I had drawn 
from them, and went on to tell Awake-in-the-Night 
about the date palms on the side of the arroya ; the big 
hole in the ground down which the stream poured, a 
hole which I claimed was a cavern, and I even took 
285 


The Land of Drought 

him with me in my day dream near to the top of the 
mesa, where, as I was picking up gold nuggets I 
heard voices speaking to me in English, but did not see 
who the people were.” 

And what did Awake-in-the-Night say about 
that?” inquired Mr. Christian. 

“ He was still more excited, and asked me what else 
I had seen in my dream, but I thought that was enough, 
and told him I then awoke. He appeared greatly re- 
lieved; and, loudly asserting that the dream was all 
nonsense, he rushed away.” 

Awake-in-the-Night will have to keep very wide 
awake if he wishes to close your eyes. Happy,” said 
Mr. Christian laughing. 

“ Have you any idea where he went when he left 
you?” 

“ I followed him,” said Rob. “ He mounted his 
horse and rode toward the northwest.” 

‘‘ Yes,” said the professor, “ he met us about half 
an hour from camp, and asked my permission to be 
away for a day and a half as there was something 
across the desert he wished to get for Happy.” 

Mr. Christian,” inquired Happy, “ won’t you 
please look at my ankle? I think it has completely 
healed. See here,” he said, putting his foot out and 
bending it in different directions. There is no pain 
whatever now.” 

“ Joe,” said Mr. Christian, examining the ankle, “ I 
think the lad can safely get up now. Suppose you 
try to do a little walking,” he said, turning to the boy. 

286 


The Land of Drought 

Nothing loath, Happy was soon on his feet, and 
was able to walk a short distance with scarcely a limp. 

Thet’s a sight fer sore eyes. Hap,” said Bill, who 
at this moment came in sight. I reckon, sir,” he 
said, “ we’ll break camp afore long now.” 

“ Yes, Bill, I think we can safely go the day after 
to-morrow,” said Mr. Christian. 

They broke camp on the day appointed. Something 
appeared to have prevented the return of Awake-in- 
the-Night at the time promised, for it was not until 
about the time they were about ready to leave camp 
that the Indian returned. He appeared tired but satis- 
fied. Apparently, whatever business he had to at- 
tend to had been satisfactorily accomplished. 

‘‘Where you go, Awake-in-the-Night? ” inquired 
Sam. “Vellyfar?” 

“ Awake-in-the-Night go way off but come back.” 

“ You gettee what you want? ” inquired Sam. 

The Indian only grunted a reply. This grunt was 
short but expressive. It meant that it was none of the 
Chinaman’s business what he got. Whatever else 
he may have obtained, he had apparently been not far 
from where the gold nuggets were found ; for he after- 
ward handed a number of these specimens both to 
Happy and to Rob. The greatest number were given 
to Rob, with the following explanation: 

“ Awake-in-the-Night bring these to young white 
medicine man. Eyes no hurt now.” 

“ I say, Joe,” remarked Mr. Christian, “ we must try 
to find out where this deposit is. It must be very rich. 

287 


The Land of Drought 

I should say this gold is purer than in most nuggets.” 
Opening his knife, as he spoke, he found no difficulty 
in cutting off a thin crust of a black substance and dis- 
played gold, almost pure, beneath. 

I agree with you, John,” said the professor. 
“ We’ll be in the part of the country before long where 
it seems Awake-in-the-Night gets the nuggets. We 
already know that it is a good day’s journey to the 
northwest. Unless the Indian has been misleading us, 
it is in an arroya, where date palm trees are growing.” 

“ You may add, Joe,” said Mr. Christian, “ that it 
is in the direction of Smith Mountain. When I come 
to think,” he suddenly said in an excited tone, there 
are toward the northwest several arroyas on the moun- 
tain on the sides of a mesa on which date palms are 
growing. But we are not counting on going directly 
toward the northwest, are we?” 

“ No, we’re first going toward the southwest, but 
will afterward turn our course toward Smith Moun- 
tain. Besides,” he added, “ the excited manner in 
which the Indian heard the boys speak of white peo- 
ple being seen on the mesa is certainly worth looking 
into. Don’t you think so, John? ” 

‘‘ I do,” was the reply. 

As they headed for the southwest on breaking camp 
they noticed that the Indian appeared much relieved. 

Nothing especial occurred during the next few days. 
Through much of this distance the desert was exceed- 
ingly arid, so that at the end of the first day they were 
obliged to make a dry camp. 

288 


/ 


The Land of Drought 

Without attempting to follow their exact course, it 
is enough to say that in one place they crossed a 
rough, arid tract covered with smooth pebbles of size 
varying from goose eggs to pigeon eggs. As Happy 
expressed it, the place resembled a huge mineralogical 
cabinet in the desert; for the separate stones almost 
completely covered the ground and, with their varied 
colors, formed a collection far more beautiful than can 
be found in any of the cabinets of our large colleges or 
institutions. 

The pebbles were evidently water-worn; a curious 
fact considering the present condition of the desert, 
but not at all curious when some of its past geological 
history is considered. 

The pebbles consisted of chalcedony, agate, flint, 
jasper, obsidian, gneiss, granite, garnets, and various 
other minerals that, although unlike as far as their 
chemical constitution is concerned, all resembled one 
another in this important respect; i. e., they were all 
hard minerals, and therefore remained while the 
others had been completely worn away. 

They spent a pleasant hour selecting specimens. The 
limitations as to load, however, necessitated their con- 
tinually throwing some already obtained away for 
others they thought more beautiful. 

A mineralogical cabinet of this character, though 
beautiful to examine, does not form the best macada- 
mized road covering from the standpoint of comfort; 
for, since they had of course dismounted, they found 
walking very unpleasant. They lost sight of this, 
T 289 


The Land of Drought 

however, in the pleasure of collecting such beautiful 
specimens. 

There was an animal of the desert which, although 
they had seen it before, they never had so good an 
opportunity for examining it as during this part of 
their journey. It was one of the largest lizards of the 
desert, known as the chuckwalla. It has a head and 
neck like a lizard, a body like a toad, and a tail more 
like the tail of a bird than that of any other animal. 
This tail is about the length of its head and body com- 
bined. Its body was of a dark reddish-brown, covered 
with orange and cream-colored spots. 

‘‘ What have you there, Sam? ” inquired Happy to 
the grinning Chinaman, who had caught it and brought 
it to the lad. “ Not good to eat, is it? ” 

“ Velly, velly good to eat,” was the reply. Waitee 
till Sam cook him to-night for you.” 

‘‘ Thet is called the chuckwalla,” said Bill, as he 
looked at it. ‘‘ At times he is a cantankerous little 
critter, chock full of fight, but generally is peaceful- 
like.” 

The behavior of the lizard agreed with Bill’s opin- 
ion ; for it was opening its mouth, displaying two rows 
of fine sawlike teeth. It did not, however, continue 
angry long, for when Sam, who did not seem to be 
afraid of it, commenced to stroke it, it shut its eyes and 
lay still in his hand as if begging for more. 

“ Is the animal poisonous ? ” inquired Happy. 

“ I ain’t sartin,” replied Bill. “ I believe all the 
people of the desert agree that it don’t hurt. It can, 
290 


The Land of Drought 

howsumever, give a bad bite with them teeth; but I 
understand it beant a poisonous bite ; and it kin give a 
hard blow with thet tail of his’n.” 

‘‘ Is Sam right when he says it is fit to eat? ” 

‘‘ Thar/' said Bill, ‘‘ I kin speak from sperience. I 
wouldn't ask for better eatin', and I don't see why the 
critter shouldn’t make good eatin', sence it lives only on 
the young buds and leaves of the creosote bushes." 

“ Are there many of these animals in the desert ? " 
‘‘ Wery many," was the reply. “ Them mountains 
over thar," he said, pointing toward the northeast, “ be 
called the Chuckwalla Mountains acause so many of 
the critters be found in 'em." 

“ Do they burrow in the sand ? " 

‘‘ Not as I understand it," was the reply. They 
live on the mountain and hide when attacked. Instead 
of showing fight, they slip into a crack in the rock 
with, mebbe, only the tail a-sticking out. Ef ye try 
to pull 'em out they may give you a hard blow with the 
tail. The curious part about 'em is thet while they 
hesn't got any means, so to speak, of holding on to 
the rocks, yet when this critter gets in the crack he 
can't be pulled out. Ye may pull so hard as to yank 
of¥ his tail, but still he holds on." 

“How can he do that?" inquired Rob, who was 
listening to this account with great interest. 

“ Acause of the cur'us way the animal be built," 
replied Bill. “ Ef he wishes to hold on tight he 
breathes in a lot of air and becomes so puffed up thet 
his body completely fills the crack." 

291 


The Land of Drought 

“ That is very interesting, Bill,” said Happy. Can 
you tell us something else about it ? ” 

I kin,” was the reply. This animal be another 
ship of the desert. He carries a sack on his back what 
contains enough water to save a feller’s life if he 
can’t git it any other place. It lives on this water when 
it can’t get any other.” 

They had gone as far to the southwest as they cared 
to go, and now changed their direction toward the 
northeast. 

“ Keep your eyes wide open, Rob,” said the profes- 
sor smiling. “ If nothing happens, we will soon be 
in the neighborhood of Smith Mountain, which is said 
to lie near Pegleg Smith’s lost gold mine.” 

They had now been moving toward the northeast for 
nearly a day, and had camped near an excellent stream 
of water. It is true that there was still between three 
and four hours before sunset, but people cannot always 
choose their camp in a desert region; for this was an 
excellent spring, and they knew of no others in the 
neighborhood. After they had struck camp, the boys 
had obtained permission to go with Bill to see if they 
could run down a deer, the tracks of which could be 
distinctly seen leading from the spring toward the 
side of a distant mountain. 

There was no difficulty in following the tracks on 
their mounts; for, after they had reached the foot of 
the mountain, the slope was gradual. 

“ Do ye know what mountain this is, boys ? ” cried 
Bill. 


292 


The Land of Drought 

I could guess,” said Happy. 

“ And what would ye guess ? ” 

“ That it is Smith Mountain.” 

While talking, Bill had been looking at the tracks of 
the deer, and then, turning to the boys, he said : 

‘‘ I think the critter is only a short distance ahead 
of us. Suppose ye boys go to the left and I will go to 
the right, and it will be odd if we don’t manage to get 
it a-tween us.” 

The boys rode off together in the direction indicated, 
and were soon out of sight of Bill. They were so in- 
tent on reaching the game that time passed more 
rapidly than they had imagined, until at last they 
found themselves in a valley walled up on the three 
sides. Here they lost sight both of the deer and of 
Bill. 

“ I think we had better go back, Rob,” said Happy. 

This was more easily said than done. For full two 
hours they wandered around in that section, until Rob, 
suddenly seizing the arm of his companion, looked at 
him in speechless amazement. 

What’s up, Rob,” exclaimed Happy. 

‘‘ Look ! ” said Rob, excitedly pointing to a low 
mesa, the top of which was covered with vegetation. 

It’s the mesa of my dream.” 

‘‘ Does it exactly resemble the mesa you dreamed 
about, Rob ? ” 

I am too far off to speak decidedly. Happy, but as 
far as I can make out the mesa is exactly the one I 
dreamed about. Look, Happy,” he said, examining it 

293 


The Land of Drought 

with a pair of field-glasses, don’t my mesa appear to 
be surrounded by precipitous walls ? ” 

“ It does,” exclaimed Happy, ‘‘ and I think I can 
see an arroya with a stream of water descending.” 

That’s so,” exclaimed Rob, examining the portion 
referred to. “ How far off do you suppose we are 
from it, Happy ? ” ] 

It looks,” was the reply, “ to be only at a distance 
of an hour or so, but you know how deceptive distances 
are in the desert.” 

“ Shall we go and examine it now or wait for Bill ? ” 
inquired Rob. 

''We will wait for Bill,” was the reply; "or, more 
correctly, we will look for Bill, but let us first try to 
fix in our minds the direction of your mesa.” 

It was a half-hour before Bill was found. Nor was 
the distant mesa visible in this locality. Like them. 
Bill had lost track of the deer. They left for camp 
with the understanding that the professor and Mr. 
Christian would accompany them the next day. 

On reaching the camp they found both gentlemen 
greatly excited by something that had occurred. It ap- 
peared that a prospector, who had located his camp 
at the spring alongside of which they were camping, 
had brought them news concerning a party of eight In- 
dians and two white men prisoners, who had been re- 
ported as journeying toward the southeast in the 
« general direction of Yuma, but not on the regular 
beaten trail. 

" I would not have seen them,” he remarked, " had 
294 


The Land of Drought 

I not been prospecting, and therefore had gone pur- 
posely off the regular trail/’ 

The information was far more direct than any yet 
received. When they heard of what the boys had 
accidentally discovered they were at first undecided 
whether to go back and make an examination of the 
mesa or to follow the party of Indians. At last, after 
considerable thought, they concluded to follow the 
Indians. 

“ After all,” said Mr. Christian, there may be 
nothing in the mesa, in which case we may lose the 
opportunity of tracing the Indians.” 

Camp was broken, and early next morning they 
took the general direction pointed out by the pros- 
pector, which brought them a little north of east across 
the desert, while the prospector continued his way to- 
ward the southwest. 

The advantage of having a guide who possessed, as 
Bill did, in a high degree the power of following 
trails was now clearly manifest. 

At first these tracks were indistinct, and evidently 
had been made by a party of Indians several days 
before. It does not take a long time to extinguish 
footmarks in the desert, particularly in the sandy sec- 
tions, for even a slight wind will soon cover all tracks 
by the blown sand. 

On the third day out, while following the tracks, Bill 
said : 

Those fellers hev been fightin’ among themselves,” 
pointing to confused foot tracks. 

295 


The Lcuid of Drought 

How do you make that out? ” inquired Mr. Chris- 
tian. 

Don’t ye see,” exclaimed Bill, thar be seven 
tracks, jest es ef all these fellers were goin’ fer the other 
feller. But as ye kin see,” he remarked, “ the other 
feller must hev been cute, fer he slipped away. Here be 
his tracks. I reckon the other fellers will catch up.” 

As they followed the tracks eagerly, they could 
readily see that the single tracks were followed by 
others, though how long, they were unable to tell. At 
last the tracks again appeared to go in all directions 
toward the single one, only here something had oc- 
curred; for, while the additional tracks had disap- 
peared, the one they had followed had remained in that 
place, and with them the body of the man who had 
made them; for, there in the desert with his face 
turned upward, was a dead Chinaman with several 
stab wounds, one through the heart. He had evidently 
been dead for some time. There was a snarl on the 
dead man’s face, and he held in his right hand a 
knife, showing that he had fought bravely for his life. 

Sam Ling was much excited when he examined the 
body of the murdered man. 

Me know Chinaman,” he said excitedly. Name’s' 
Cheng Lung.” 

“What do you say the name is?” exclaimed Mr. 
Christian excitedly. “Did you say Cheng Lung? 
Why, Joe,” he said, turning to the professor, “ that 
was the name of the Chinese cook who was with Rob’s 
grandfather. What can he have been doing here ? ” 
296 


The Land of Drought 

I don’t know,” was the reply ; but I think we have 
made no mistake in following this party rather than 
going to look at the mesa of Rob’s dream.” 

‘‘ Sam,” inquired Mr. Christian, “ what do you 
know about this Chinaman ? ” 

‘‘ Cheng Lung velly bad fellow. No trust Cheng 
Lung. Hear velly bad stories about him.” 

Let’s hear them,” said Mr. Christian. 

Not now,” was the reply. Sam go with you 
further north. Then Sam will have more stoly to tell 
and will tell it with whole face.” 

Although they tried repeatedly, they were unable to 
persuade Sam to change his mind. 


297 


CHAPTER XXVI 


North Along the Colorado River 

T HE fact that Cheng Lung had been one of the attend- 
ants of Robert Harold Gordon, Sr., Rob’s grandfather, 
was a factor of surpassing interest. 

“ Do you suppose, John,” said the professor, ‘‘ that 
this man had any connection with the Indians for 
whom we are looking ? ” 

I do not know, Joe, whether the Chinaman formed 
one of the party or not.” 

That is acause ye gents ain’t used to obsarvin’ 
tracks,” remarked Bill. Ef ye war ye could see fer 
sartin thet the murdered man war one of the party. 
The prospector said there war eight Indians and two 
white men. Now thar were eight horse tracks leading 
to the scrimmage we saw, and only seven horse tracks 
a-leading from it. Tharfore, ez ye kin see, the chances 
war thet the Chinaman war one of the party.” 

But, Bill,” objected Mr. Christian, they didn’t 
kill the horse, so there would be eight horse tracks 
leading from the scene of the murder.” 

“ But, Mr. Christian,” interrupted Happy, “ there 
were only seven horse tracks leading away together 
from this place, because the tracks of a single horse 
could be seen leading in another direction.” 

“ Ye be a cute one. Hap,” said Bill in evident delight. 

298 


The Land of Drought 

I noticed them thar single hoss tracks. Did ye savvy 
anything else about ’em? ” 

The tracks were lighter than those of the other 
horses,” was the reply ; “ showing that when the horse 
ran away it was unmounted. I suppose this was done 
when Cheng Lung had dismounted, or had fallen 
from the horse when they killed him.” 

‘‘ If that is so,” said Mr. Christian, “ is it not prob- 
able, Bill, that the horse, finding difficulty in obtain- 
ing water, will follow our trail ? ” 

Ef thet hoss were a-coming to us he would hev 
been here long afore this. I reckon he hez found water 
somewhar else,” was the reply. ‘‘ Ef the critter could 
be found we might hev a way of lamin’ a little more 
about the dead Chinaman. Ef it be thet this feller 
hed been with Mr. Gordon, recent like, and Mr. Gor- 
don hez been in the power of these men, we may find 
a-something in the pack on the animal thet some of ye 
gents may recognize as belongin’ to him.” 

Happy,” exclaimed the professor, “ you have gone 
far ahead of most people in the reading of such signs 
as horse trails. Who taught you ? ” 

When Bill heard this question he grinned, and ap- 
peared much pleased when Happy remarked : 

‘‘ It was Colorado Bill who taught me how to track 
a horse or other animal by his footsteps. I learned it 
on the ranch in Texas.” 

Hap,” said Bill, “ tell the gents all ye kin read in 
the many tracks ye saw in all directions around the 
body of the Chinaman.” 


299 


The Land of Drought 

You do it, Bill; you can do it so much better than 
I can,” replied Happy. 

“ No ; I want ye to do it. Fd like to know how near 
what ye seed agrees with what I seed.” 

Then Fll do what I can,” said Happy. Pointing 
to the tracks surrounding the body, he said : As you 
can see, there are the tracks of seven horses that ap- 
pear to be coming in different directions against a sin- 
gle horse, and here,” pointing some distance away, 
are the tracks of two others, whose riders appear 
to have taken no part in the fight. It looks as though 
the man had been killed while on his horse; for here 
he has apparently been lifted and laid on the ground. I 
think it was at this time that his horse escaped. As 
you can see, the footprints of the riderless horse are 
lighter than when it was burdened by the weight of the 
man.” 

How simple it is, now you describe it. Happy,” 
said Norman. I imagine I can almost see the thing 
occurring before me.” 

Drive on. Hap,” said Bill, greatly elated at what 
the lad had said. ‘‘ I reckon ye aren’t to stop than 
Tell the gents what else ye think ye seed.” 

‘‘ Something has happened to the horses that were 
standing alone; for, as you see, they have started 
off at a rapid gait away from the others. I think,” he 
continued, “ I can read in the tracks that the seven 
murderers did not wish the two people to escape. 
There are seven tracks following the two, and the two 
were caught and brought back, as you can see from the 
300 


The Land of Drought 

nine horse tracks leading back to where the body of 
the murdered man lay.” 

Awake-in-the-Night, who had been listening, had 
no difficulty in understanding the lad’s remarks, and 
said : 

“ Young white lad heap bright. You come and live 
with red men; make you great warrior. You come? ” 

“ Not much,” replied Happy laughing. “ My own 
race is good enough for me.” 

‘‘ Gents,” said Bill, who with the others had again 
collected around the body of the Chinaman, “ though 
this poor feller be only a heathen Chinee, I reckon ye 
don’t wish to leave his body for the wild animals to 
eat. Shall I bury it ? ” 

‘‘ By all means do so. Bill,” said the gentlemen. 

‘‘ Don’t do this. Bill,” exclaimed Rob, ‘‘ before we 
search the body to see if there is anything that would 
help in identifying it.” 

Rob was thinking of his missing relatives. He 
hoped they might obtain from the body some evidence 
of the identity of the man other than that furnished by 
Sam, together with the mere recollection of Mr. Chris- 
tian that the Chinese named Cheng Lung formed one 
of the attendants of his grandfather’s party. 

An examination of the corpse showed nothing ex- 
cept a curiously carved stone, an agate, suspended by a 
chain around the neck, and evidently employed as an 
amulet or charm. 

‘‘ Sence ye collect mineral things,” said Bill, turning 
to Rob, “ ye kin keep this.” 

301 


The Land of Drought 

Awake-in-the-Night had been examining the cu- 
riously carved handle of the knife that had been left 
in the wound over the man’s heart. Stooping down 
and withdrawing the knife, he said : 

Awake-in-the-Night keep this knife. Maybe he 
has seen knife before; maybe not.” 

There being no objection to this, the Indian wiped 
the bloody blade on the dead man’s clothes, and aid- 
ing Bill in scraping a shallow grave, the body was 
buried after a brief service. Some stones placed on 
the ground in the shape of a cross marked the posi- 
tion of the body. 

The work finished, they continued at a rapid gait, 
following the footprints of the party of Indians. There 
was no difficulty in doing this, since the incident 
occurred in a sandy portion of the desert. Unfortu- 
nately, however, a wind rose, soon completely wiping 
out the footprints in the sandy places, but leaving them 
unaffected elsewhere. 

Their general course had been southeast, toward 
Yuma. They continued in the same general direction 
all day without finding the footprints again until to- 
ward evening. 

The desert character of the region now began to 
change. They were evidently approaching water. Be- 
fore long they came to a stream flowing from an ar- 
tesian well, that in one place had collected in a pool 
large enough to enable them to take a bath. 

Though not the first artesian well they had seen, it 
was by far the largest. The boring had evidently ex- 
302 


The Land of Drought 

tended downward for a considerable distance. That 
it had struck an underground reservoir filled with 
water under considerable pressure was evident from 
the quantity that escaped. As the well was sunk, 
sections of wrought-iron pipe had been successively 
screwed together, thus forming a casing that pre- 
vented the sand from washing into and thus filling the 
opening. The last of these sections had been left 
projecting a few feet above the ground, and from it 
the water was thrown upward several inches into the 
air. It was a good steady stream that had formed 
where it flowed over the side of the pool, a fairly large 
brook, several hundred feet in length, before it was 
sucked up by the thirsty sand. 

Evidently the well had not been dug many years 
before, since, although vegetation had appeared in all 
parts of the soil moistened by the life-giving waters, 
yet the trees that had sprung up had only a few years’ 
growth. 

After a bath, for a pool large enough for that had 
formed. Bill said: 

“ Thar be a ranchhouse two miles below, whar they 
hev dug a bigger well and hev much vegetable stuff 
a-growing. Ef course ye’ll stop thar over night. 
Ye’ll find the man very pleasant, and I reckon the boys 
wouldn’t mind heving some fruit to eat, sich as melons 
or peaches.” 

They were hospitably received by the proprietor of 
the ranch, who gave them considerable information as 
to the sinking of artesian wells in the desert. He was 

303 


The Land of Drought 

an educated man who had settled in this part of Cali- 
fornia on account of weak lungs. As he informed 
them, the sinking of artesian wells in desert re- " 
gions was by no means a novel thing. It had been 
done in the Great Sahara Desert, in Africa, as early 
as 1836. Generally, artesian wells in desert regions are 
bored deeper than elsewhere. The well sunk in the 
Sahara, in 1836, went down nearly two hundred feet 
when it struck a reservoir from which the water 
poured out in a considerable stream. 

Artesian wells have also been dug in other deserts, 
especially in various parts of the arid desert regions 
through which they had been traveling. They have 
also been bored in various parts of Texas, where, on 
land practically worthless before for want of water, 
they are now raising splendid crops. 

From what their host told them, it appeared that one 
of the first successful artesian wells on the Colorado 
Desert was bored in 1899, by the Southern Pacific 
Railroad Company, at Mecca. This well was so suc- 
cessful that the government appropriated money for 
sinking another well at Martinez. This second well 
was even more wonderful than the first, and poured 
out water at such a rate as to permit much additional 
land to be cultivated. 

‘‘ It was from these beginnings so small in them- 
selves,” said the gentleman, “ that in that particular 
district there are now nearly three hundred artesian 
wells, that vary in depth from five hundred to six 
hundred and fifty feet. 


304 


The Land of Drought 

“ The artesian wells of the district,” he said, “ in 
which I have built my ranch, are almost as deep.” 

“ Where does the water come from, sir? ” inquired 
Rob. 

‘‘ There is evidently a great reservoir of artesian 
water underlying much of the western part of the 
Colorado Desert,” was the reply. “ Indeed, I think it 
more than probable that if these borings were made 
deep enough, water might be obtained from all parts 
of the desert. As to where this water comes from is 
difficult to tell. It may be due to the melting of snow 
on the tops of the neighboring mountains, or it may be 
due to leakage from the Colorado River.” 

That night after supper their host said to Mr. Chris- 
tian : 

“ One of my men has brought me a strayed horse 
that came here several days ago. It has a small pack 
on its back, and has evidently escaped from its rider. 
I imagine the animal has strayed from your party.” 

‘‘ It is not our horse,” said Mr. Christian. ‘‘ I think, 
however, I know the man who last rode it.” He then 
described the incident of the murdered Chinaman and 
the rude grave they made for him in the desert, more 
than half a day’s journey to the northwest. “ I would 
like to examine the pack on the horse,” continued Mr. 
Christian. “ It may throw light on something that 
has brought us to this part of the desert.” 

‘‘ And what was that, if I am not asking for some- 
thing you wish to keep to yourselves ? ” 

“ On the contrary,” replied Mr. Christian, I pre- 

u 305 


The Land of Drought 

fer telling you, since you can perhaps help me.” He 
then described the disappearance of Rob’s people and 
the rumors they had heard about the Indians, and the 
fact that they were then on the Indians’ trail. 

An examination of the pack showed that it contained 
two articles of great importance, since they established 
beyond doubt the fact that the murdered man had been 
in the company of Rob’s people. These articles were 
some notes taken while in the field, the handwriting of 
which was recognized as being that of Rob’s grand- 
father. These notes referred to an unusually rich 
deposit of gold in the face of a canon, the site of 
which, however, was, unfortunately, not given. The 
other article was an amethyst ring that Rob at once 
recognized as having belonged to his father. 

The finding of the notes and ring greatly encouraged 
them. It seemed, indeed, that the two white prisoners 
were the missing men. It is not surprising, therefore, 
that they started early the next morning in eager pur- 
suit. Their course was still toward the southeast; for 
Bill had succeeded in again discovering the trail of the 
eight horses. 

‘‘ Do you want to take the horse with you ? ” said 
their host. 

“ No,” was the reply; “ keep it for your trouble.” 

It is not our intention to follow the wanderings of 
this party in their search for the Indians and their 
prisoners. They traced them to the outskirts of Yuma 
and beyond. For many long and weary weeks they 
306 


The Land of Drought 

continued following the hoofprints, at times losing 
them entirely. They were wary fellows, those In- 
dians, whoever they were ; for at times they broke up 
into smaller parties, making it difficult for them to 
determine which one to follow, but they kept at it 
until they had traveled north along the eastern bank 
of the Colorado River, to the country considerably west 
of Phoenix, Prescott, and Ash Fork. 

Most of this portion of western Arizona is a desert 
country. It differed greatly, however, in appearance 
from the Colorado Desert, through which they had 
been passing. Here the surface consisted of a number 
of plateaus, varying in height from a few feet to several 
thousand feet. The plateaus are crossed by parallel 
mountain ranges, extending generally from the south- 
west to the northeast. The summits of many of the 
ranges are snow-clad and covered with trees and other 
vegetation. Some ranges have peaks over twelve 
thousand five hundred feet in height. 

This portion of the country is characterized by the 
presence of numerous mesas, or tablelands. As al- 
ready explained, the flat tablelike surfaces of mesas 
mark the former level of the country, the surrounding 
land having been worn away by erosion. They are 
places where the general surface has resisted erosion 
by reason of its greater hardness. 

Much of this country is characterized by such a va- 
riety of colors that it has received the name of the 
“ Painted Desert,” the colors varying from the daz- 
zling whites of sands or alkali deposits, to the jet blacks 

307 


The Land of Drought 

of obsidian or lavas. They also include reds, yellows, 
blues, browns, greens, purples, and many other colors. 
When seen on the flanks of adjacent mountain ranges 
one might almost imagine that some giant artist, using 
the mountain slopes for his canvas, had painted on them 
combinations of colors that outrivaled in gorgeous- 
ness anything the mind could conceive. It was a dry, 
arid country through which they passed, quite as hot 
in places as almost any portion of the Colorado Desert, 
but by no means always so; for at times sudden cold 
winds, blowing across the desert, would cause them to 
shiver. 

After a long journey they eventually reached a 
portion of Arizona near the southwestern extremity of 
Colorado and the State of Utah, not far from where 
the two Gordons had so mysteriously disappeared. 


308 


CHAPTER XXVII 


Continued Pursuit of Mashinsky and 
Metchiniskoff 

‘‘ Do you think it well to change our route to Salt 
Lake City, Ivan ? '' inquired Blank as they were about 
leaving the hotel in Chicago. 

No, Blank,” was the reply, we will follow the 
route the men are believed to have taken, for St. Louis, 
Kansas City, and Denver. We will stop over at each 
of these cities; for, should anything new be learned, 
my people will send me word. I think the men will get 
on as rapidly as possible. They have made a bad 
break in Chicago in the attempted sale of the emerald, 
and in Leadville with the fake gold mine. Don’t you 
think so ? ” 

‘‘ I square it up the same as you do, Ivan,” said 
Blank. These fellows are taking big risks when they 
try to fool Western mining men. Next to stealing a 
horse, an attempt to sell a fake mine is one of the most 
dangerous things a fellow can try. He is apt to be 
strung up at the end of a rope or shot full of lead for 
either.” 

“ You’re right there. Blank,” said his companion. 
“ I think our greatest risk is that some one else 
will catch these fellows. I hope they won’t. This 
might not only mean the loss of the emerald, but 

309 


The Land of Drought 

would also rob us of the honor of sending the men 
back to Russia. I’d feel mighty bad to slip up on this 
affair. It would injure my reputation, both with his 
majesty the Czar, and Prince Dimitri, as well as with 
the other people.” 

“ Do you mean especially with the crooked people 
who love you so much? ” inquired Blank in a jollying 
tone. 

“ Yes, especially with the crooks. Blank,” was the 
laughing reply. “ You know as well as I do the danger 
of getting a reputation with crooked people, but you 
also know full well how it helps us in our work against 
them.” 

But let us now return again to Mashinsky and Met- 
chiniskoff as they hurriedly left Leadville for Salt 
Lake City. Knowing the danger of attempting to 
leave the city at the railroad station, they purchased 
food and water flasks, and keeping sufflciently near the 
railroad tracks to be sure of their direction, but far 
enough to avoid being seen by people on passing trains, 
they tramped slowly toward the next station at which 
the train for Salt Lake City would stop. Their weari- 
some tramp was made all the more unpleasant by the 
bad temper both of them were in. 

** I hope you are through with your wretched non- 
sense,” said Metchiniskoff to his companion. “ You 
sell a gold mine! Why, you haven’t sense enough to 
know what you have for sale! Even that youngster 
showed at once how you had missed it.” 

310 


The Land of Drought 

‘‘If you don’t like my way of doing things, suppose 
you tell me how to try something better. You seemed 
to think my plan pretty slick when I first told you 
about it. Why have you changed your mind? ” 

“ Because I find now that you’re a greater fool than 
I thought you were.” 

In due time they reached the station at which the 
express stopped, and, fortunately, at midnight, so that 
they boarded it without attracting attention. 

They had agreed to call each other by their Christian 
names, and that if they were asked their business they 
would claim to be prospectors who were examining 
the country around Great Salt Lake. 

Nothing especial occurred. When they reached the 
first station south of Salt Lake City, Mashinsky began 
getting his little belongings together as if ready to leave 
the train. 

“ What are you up to now ? ” growled Metchiniskoff. 
“ This ain’t Salt Lake City.” 

“ I reckon I know what I’m doing,” replied his com- 
panion. “ Do you think I intend being bagged by 
walking into Salt Lake City, just as if I had a right to 
go there? With those two devils, Petromelinsky and 
Blank, after us, I wouldn’t dare to go straight through. 
If I did it would be to walk into the hands of those 
who have been advised by telegraph to spot us when 
the train comes in.” 

“ You are cute enough, Mashinsky,” said his com- 
panion, “ in some things, though you are stupid in 
others.” 


311 


The Land of Drought 

On reaching Salt Lake City on foot, which they did 
at night, they found quarters in an obscure part of 
the city. The next morning Mashinsky, who was care- 
ful not to let his companion get out of his sight, no- 
ticed that he stopped in a second-hand store, purchased 
a revolver, and then in another store purchased shells 
for it. 

“ What are you doing now, spending the little money 
that we have ? ” inquired his companion. 

Stop growling; I reckon I know what I’m doing,” 
said Metchiniskoff. “ Think of the fortune I’m carry- 
ing in this emerald. I want something that will help 
me to protect both it and myself. First thing I know 
some fellow will be trying to steal it. If he should,” 
he added, giving his companion a significant look, “ I’ll 
stop all that nonsense mighty quick.” 

‘‘ I don’t think much of revolvers,” said Mashinsky. 

I prefer this,” drawing a stiletto. 

Mashinsky had spent much time in putting a keen 
point on the weapon. 

‘‘ You keep it sharp, don’t you? ” Metchiniskoff ex- 
claimed. “ I see you have ground edges on it, which 
is unusual. It looks as if it might be as sharp as a 
razor,” stretching forth his hand as if to feel it. 

“ I have reason to keep it in good working condi- 
tion,” said Mashinsky ; “ but be careful. The blade 
is poisoned. You’d be a dead man sure if it cut but a 
scratch on your hand.” 

‘‘ What a low-lived scoundrel you are,” said his com- 
panion, not to give the fellow you strike a chance for 
312 


The Land of Drought 

his life.” This conversation gave them a good under- 
standing of the precautions each had taken against the 
other. 

Mashinsky had lied, however. He had not poisoned 
the stiletto, but fearing that Metchiniskoff was en- 
deavoring to disarm him, adopted this ruse to pre- 
vent it. He felt convinced, that while his companion 
may have purchased the revolver for protection against 
others, he was the one for whom it was especially de- 
signed. He was all the more willing to believe this 
since he felt sure that Metchiniskoff suspected that he 
was seeking to get the emerald and leave him. 

The affairs of the two rascals had now become se- 
rious. They had practically spent all their money with 
the exception of the counterfeit bills obtained in the 
sale of the turquoise ring. 

They had not been in the city long before Mashinsky 
learned the names of several of its wealthiest men. 
Thinking it might be possible to find a purchaser, even 
at a somewhat reduced price, he carefully approached 
a few of these, inquiring if they would care to pur- 
chase an emerald of unusual size and beauty. At last 
a man was found who declared he would purchase pro- 
vided the stone was of unquestioned quality and fire. 

I am not up on such things,” said the would-be 
purchaser. I wish you to show it to a jeweler in 
town here who can tell me what it is worth.” 

“ That will be all right,” exclaimed Mashinsky. 
ril bring the man to whom the emerald belongs here 
some time to-morrow. Suppose we go and see the 

313 


The Land of Drought 

jeweler now and have a talk with him. I can then 
learn what hour will be most convenient for us to 
call.” 

What Mashinsky wished to do was to find out 
whether the police authorities in Chicago and the 
East had sent on a description of the stolen gem, warn- 
ing people not to purchase it. 

In a cautious manner Mashinsky soon satisfied him- 
self that such information had been lodged, and that it 
therefore would be impossible to make a sale of the 
jewel in the manner he had intended. Making an ap- 
pointment for the next day, which he had no inten- 
tion whatever of keeping, he left the jeweler and the 
prospective purchaser and rejoined his companion. 
He saw, however, by the behavior of the jeweler that 
his suspicions had been aroused. 

It’s all up with us,” he said. Information has 
been sent to this city. It will be dangerous for us to 
attempt to sell it here. What would you advise 
doing ? ” 

‘‘We have our tickets for San Francisco. Let’s 
take the train to that city. Possibly we can find some 
way of selling the thing there.” 

“ What shall we do for food in the meanwhile ? ” in- 
quired Mashinsky. 

“ Buy, of course,” was the reply. “ It won’t cost 
much.” 

“ I don’t pretend to know how much money you 
have; but, for my part, I haven’t a red cent left,” 

“ Nor I, either,” replied his companion, 

314 


The Land of Drought 

Neither was willing to believe the other, but for a 
wonder each was telling the truth. 

Let’s get off, anyhow, and take the train for San 
Francisco,” said Metchiniskoff. 

‘‘ Yes,” said his companion; I sewed the tickets in 
the pocket of my vest so they couldn’t be stolen.” 

Taking out his stiletto he commenced ripping the 
lining. To his horror and surprise some one had been 
ahead of him. The vest had already been ripped open 
by some clever thief and the tickets had been stolen. 
They were left in Salt Lake City without any money 
whatever, and without their tickets. The irony of the 
situation was complete. Although one of them carried 
a fortune in the emerald, it was not convertible, and 
was therefore of no value whatever for immediate 
use. 

They were indeed in an extremely dangerous situa- 
tion. They were convinced that the jeweler suspected 
them, and they knew that Petromelinsky and Blank 
were close on their trail. Their peril was such that 
they were driven to desperation and willing to take 
chances in proportion. 

Careful examination of a portion of the city where 
a number of residences were, disclosed the fact that 
one was temporarily closed and left in charge of a 
single caretaker. They determined, therefore, to take 
the risk of breaking into the house and stealing such 
articles of silverware and jewelry as might be safely 
disposed of. 

They went about the job systematically. It was not 

315 


The Land of Drought 

their first burglary. They spent several days in learn- 
ing the habits of the caretaker, and finally broke into 
the house when they believed he would not return for 
many hours. They had succeeded in collecting con- 
siderable silverware and jewelry and some little money 
in loose cash and bills, but as they were about leaving 
the premises the caretaker returned. The man saw 
Mashinsky, and at once drew a revolver, but before 
he could fire Mashinsky had plunged his stiletto 
through his heart. Death was almost instantaneous. 
But as the man dropped, the pistol fell from his hand 
and exploded, thus alarming the neighborhood, so that 
several people came running to the house. 

We will have to get out of this quickly,” cried 
Mashinsky in a low tone to his companion. 

And leave all this swag? ” inquired his companion 
in surprise ; for Metchiniskoff had been so interested in 
collecting the plunder that he had failed to hear the 
tramp of feet. 

‘‘ Listen, idiot ! ” cried Mashinsky, people are en- 
tering the house.” 

Even as he spoke footsteps could be heard on the 
porch. 

There has been a murder here as well as bur- 
glary,” they heard one of the people remark as they 
stopped to examine the body of the dead man. 

Convinced that he had better take his companion’s 
advice, Metchiniskoff hurriedly picking up some of the 
jewelry and taking with him a small quantity of money 
he had found in one of the bureau drawers, escaped 
316 


The Land of Drought 

with Mashinsky at one of the back doors, and without 
being seen. 

The dangerous position in which they now were 
made Metchiniskoff willing to leave to his companion 
plans for their escape. 

“ What had we best do ? he inquired. 

We cannot go on now to San Francisco as our, 
railroad tickets are gone. Indeed, I believe it well that 
we cannot, for that devil, Petromelinsky, would cer- 
tainly have sent men there to capture us. We dare 
not remain in Salt Lake City, for we may have been 
seen. Let’s buy a little food with the money we got in 
the house and strike across the State to the southeast. 

I imagine the best thing we can do is to lose ourselves 
for a while in some mining camp, where we will wait 
until the matter has blown over.” 

That this advice was good was evident when at the 
end of the second day they got hold of a newspaper 
that had been published in Salt Lake City, giving an 
account of the murder, with an excellent description of 
the two men, and offering a big reward for their cap- 
ture. We will leave them, however, for a while wander- 
ing across the southeastern border of the State of Ne- 
vada into the northwestern part of the Territory of 
Arizona, not far from Colorado. 

Nothing of importance happened to Petromelinsky, 
Blank, and his party. They reached St. Louis and 
stopped at the Planters’ Hotel. Here Petromelinsky 
received definite information from his people that 

317 


The Land of Drought 

Mashinsky and Metchiniskoff were known to have 
left for Salt Lake City by the way of Kansas City and 
Denver. Proceeding hurriedly after the men, a tele- 
gram from Professor Englenian was found awaiting 
Francksen at Kansas City. 

When the professor and his party had reached 
Yuma, on their return from the Colorado Desert, and 
before starting out in pursuit of the Indians and their 
white prisoners, north along the Colorado River, he 
sent a telegram to Francksen telling about the party 
they were pursuing and the reasons they had for be- 
lieving the two Gordons were in reality the captives of 
the Indians. 

Tell me about that, Francksen,” said Ivan. “ It's 
a very pretty case. You know I have already heard a 
little about it. Tell me all you know.” 

After a full description of what had happened. Blank 
said : 

“ I can’t square it, Ivan, how two able men like the 
Gordons could have been kept captive for so long a 
time without letting their condition be known to 
others.” 

“ I reckon. Blank,” said his companion, “ that is 
because you have never posted yourself concerning 
some of the people who live in this part of the country. 
Now, while I am not much up on these things, I un-’ 
derstand that there are queer people, both whites and 
Indians, living in different parts of this region. The 
whites, the Danites — and the Indians, the Navajos and 
the Hopis. 


The Land of Drought 

“ The Danites,” continued Ivan, are a secret so- 
ciety sometimes known as the ‘ Avengers of Blood/ 
They went about endeavoring to avenge themselves on 
the Gentiles, as they called the Christians, who had 
commenced coming into the desert in increasing num- 
bers in search for gold and silver. The Danites took 
their name from Dan, the son of Jacob. 

“ The Danites were before our time. Blank. They 
were a great power as early as 1837. They are sup- 
posed to have entirely disappeared, but from what I 
hear from some of our people, I am disposed to think 
that this sect of the Mormons is still to be found in 
these parts of the country.’’ 

But what have the Indians to do with the Dan- 
ites?” inquired Francksen. “It is the Indians who 
have the captives.” 

“ Both the Mormons and the tribes of Indians who 
live in the section where the men disappeared are 
very jealous of strangers coming into their territory 
in search for gold or other precious metals. Most of 
the Indians are the descendants of the ancient races 
who lived in the cliff houses and other prehistoric 
ruins so common in these parts of the country. They 
are a curious people, with the strange religious be- 
liefs and customs they have received from the races 
from which they have descended, and are especially 
unwilling to have strangers come in search of gold. 

“ I think it probable. Blank,” he continued, “ that 
in some way, I do not know how, these men have been 
taken captives by some of these white or Indian clans 

319 


The Land of Drought 

or sects. As to keeping them from making themselves 
known while traveling, that may have been done by 
powerful drugs prepared from the plants or animals 
of the desert. Although these people are ignorant of 
what is known as chemistry, yet they are exceedingly 
clever in preparing what they call magic medicines 
from plants or animals.’' 

Blank listened intently while his companion was 
speaking, and then, turning to Francksen, said: 

‘‘ I am at last beginning to see how it is possible to 
square the disappearance of these men. Francksen,” 
he said, suppose you and I put our heads together 
and write to the professor what Ivan has just told us. 
We will send the letter to St. Louis. While the chances 
are that it will reach him too late to be of any service, 
we can at least make the effort. You’d better make a 
copy of the letter. We might want to use it.” 

Blank and his party stopped over at Leadville and 
saw Schloss. The only information they received was 
that the men they were seeking had been seen in Salt 
Lake City. They therefore left for that place, and soon 
arrived at this great city of the desert of Utah. 

It is odd to think that a city having a population of 
considerably over fifty thousand could be established 
in the desert; for, although situated on Great Salt 
Lake, yet, besides a few small rivers that empty into the 
lake, the Bear, the Ogden, the Jordan, and the Weber, 
almost the only water it employs for irrigation is that 
obtained from reservoirs fed by the melting snows on 
the peaks and sides of the Wasatch Mountains, at the 
320 


The Land of Drought 

foot of which the city is situated. It is by means of 
these waters that the valley in which the city is built 
has been changed into a region known far and wide 
for its great beauty, wonderful fertility, and health- 
giving properties. 

It is curious to wander through the streets of Salt 
Lake City, where a stream of excellent water is con- 
stantly flowing through the gutters on each side of the 
street. 

The Mormons have erected a number of large build- 
ings, the principal of which is a granite structure 
known as the Great Temple, that was built at a cost 
of about five million dollars. Another great building, 
the Tabernacle, constructed mainly of wood, at a cost 
of five hundred thousand dollars, is said to have the 
largest roof in the world unsupported by columns. It 
has a seating capacity of thirteen thousand five hun- 
dred. 

There was no doubt when they reached Salt Lake 
City that the men had been there; for Petromelinsky 
was informed of the effort of a man whose descrip- 
tion agreed with Mashinsky to dispose of an emerald 
to a jeweler. When, the day after their arrival, they 
found a description of the murder of a caretaker of one 
of the residences in the city by two men, they were 
convinced that they were on the right track. 

“ Both of the men are now wanted for murder,” 
said Blank, as he read the account to his colleague; 
“for there can be no doubt but that these are the men 
we are after.” 

V 


321 


The Land of Drought 

‘‘ They must have been hard pressed,” said Pe- 
tromelinsky, to take the risk of a burglary when they 
had with them something that, if they could only find 
a safe market for it, would enable them to live in 
luxury the rest of their lives. I think. Blank, if you 
and I take the time we can learn what we need to 
know about the escape of these men; for there are 
now others besides ourselves who want them.” 

This was done, and after working for two days they 
came to the conclusion that instead of going on to 
San Francisco, the fugitives had left Salt Lake City 
and struck across the country toward the southeast. 
They decided therefore to follow them. 

While making arrangements to leave Salt Lake 
City, Petromelinsky received a despatch from Bla- 
vinski as a cablegram, from Vladivostok, Russia. 
This cablegram was to the effect that Blavinski, who 
had both plenty of money and spare time, had con- 
cluded that since he had long wished for an opportu- 
nity to visit the Western United States, he would join 
them in Salt Lake City by means of a steamer to San 
Francisco. It so happened, therefore, that Blavinski 
made one of the detective’s party. 


322 


CHAPTER XXVIII 


An Attempted Hold-up. Conclusion 

The ill-mated couple, Mashinsky and Metchiniskoff, 
continued their painful journey on foot toward the 
south. Instead of making the best of their condition, 
which was miserable enough, they" made it worse by 
constant quarreling. As frequently happens in such 
cases, instead of recognizing the fact that they had 
brought their trouble on themselves, they endeavored 
to shift the responsibility on others. 

Though both men were confessed thieves, they did 
not hesitate to condemn the meanness of the thief who 
stole their railroad tickets, thus leaving them adrift in 
a strange country. 

I don’t so much mind,” said Mashinsky, ‘‘ steal- 
ing a thing from a rich man who won’t feel it, and who 
has already more than his share of good things, but 
to rip open my vest and go off with our tickets is almost 
as low down as a fellow can get.” 

You were stupid not to have caught the fellow. 
Suppose I had let you take charge of the emerald and 
that had been stolen, what then ? ” 

What’s the use of asking such fool questions ? ” 
said his companion. “ That would have been bad. But 
it has not been stolen, has it? ” he inquired. 

No,” was the reply ; I still have it safe.” 

323 


The Land of Drought 

‘‘We have done many foolish things, Metchinis- 
koff,” said Mashinsky. “ Think how well we would be 
fixed if we had not lost the Dimitri and Blavinski dia- 
monds. Had it not been for the two lads they call 
Rob and Happy, we would have those diamonds to-day ; 
for I don’t believe that Philadelphia detective would 
have caught us if it hadn’t been for them.” 

“ You are right there,” said his companion. “We 
owe most of our troubles to those boys.” 

“ Which of them do you think did us the most 
harm? ” inquired Mashinsky. 

“ The chap called Happy,” was the reply. “ He’s 
the brightest of the two, don’t you think so ? ” 

“ They are both bright,” said Mashinsky. “ If I 
ever get the chance I’ll stop their meddling with other 
people’s business with this,” placing his hand on the 
handle of his stiletto. 

“ And if I ever have the chance,” said his companion, 
“ I’ll put a bullet through them. I won’t have my plans 
spoiled by meddlers like them.” 

It did not take more than a week for the two men to 
realize how foolhardy it was to attempt to find their 
way alone across a country like that through which 
they were passing. They repeatedly had difficulty in 
finding good drinking water, and on several occasions 
came very nearly relieving the law of the necessity of 
punishing them by perishing miserably on the desert. 

Their trade as gem-cutters had given them a fairly 
extended familiarity with the precious stones. In sev- 

324 


The Land of Drought 

eral parts of the desert they found excellent specimens 
of agates and garnets, which they knew would be of 
fairly considerable value if properly cut and polished. 
It was Mashinsky, however, who made a find that 
greatly excited them. It was a large piece of tur- 
quoise — not, however, of the best quality. 

“We may pick up stones of great value if we keep 
our eyes open. If this turquoise was only clearer and 
better colored it would be worth a heap of money.” 

“ Why should we not do this ? ” replied his com- 
panion. “ We have little else to do.” 

They agreed to become prospectors for precious 
stones. Of course they would also keep a lookout for 
any deposits of valuable metals they might have the 
good fortune to discover. 

On one of the several occasions, when they had 
almost perished for want of water, they were rescued 
by two prospectors who found them in an unconscious 
condition, actually at the point of death. 

“ What be you two chaps doin’ here in the desert? ” 
exclaimed one of the men to Mashinsky, when he and 
his companion had been restored to consciousness. 

“ Prospecting for precious stones,” was the reply, 
showing them the specimens of agate and chalcedony 
they had obtained, but making no reference to the tur- 
quoise which they knew was of greater value than any 
of the others. 

The Russians did their best to make themselves 
agreeable to the prospectors, and were successful in this 
effort. The loneliness of the desert is so great that 

325 


The Land of Drought 

almost any kind of companions are welcomed. After 
talking together for some time, the strange pros- 
pectors informed Mashinsky and Metchiniskoff that 
they knew of something that was worth finding not 
many days’ journey to the southeast. 

You’re a man who knows a turquoise when he 
sees it, don’t you, mate ? ” asked one of them of Met- 
chiniskoff. 

The guilty knowledge of the turquoise ring he had 
taken from the finger of the Czar’s officer, after he had 
murdered him, caused Metchiniskoff to fear that some- 
how or other the man had discovered his secret, so he 
said in a faltering tone : 

‘‘ Why do you ask that question, pard ? ” 

Because,” replied Mashinsky, fearing his com- 
panion would betray his secret, it is because he knows 
where a first-class article of this gem can be found. Am 
I not right, mate ? ” he asked. 

‘‘ You’ve hit the bull’s-eye,” said the man; “ but you 
have not answered my question,” he added, turning to 
Metchiniskoff. “ You do know a turquoise when you 
see it, do you not ? ” 

I reckon I do,” he said. '' How will this fill the 
bill ? ” handing him the specimen they had already 
found. 

“ It’s a turquoise, all right,” said the man, “ but it’s 
of poor quality. Come with us and, if we have any 
luck, we’ll show you where enough of this stuff is to 
be found to make all of us comfortable for the rest of 
our lives.” 


326 


The Land of Drought 

The invitation was accepted, and having agreed that 
all stones or other things of value discovered while to- 
gether should be shared equally, the four men started 
of on a long tramp toward the southeast. 


Blavinski was a great acquisition to the detective’s 
party. He was a well-educated man, thoroughly con- 
versant with the art of making himself as comfortable 
as possible and doing all he could in making those 
around him the same. 

The detectives now knew the fugitives had not left 
Salt Lake City by train. They made the mistake, 
however, of supposing that this was only a bluff. They 
had learned that two men, answering to the description 
of the two Russians, had been seen leaving with a sin- 
gle packhorse, which they followed on foot in a gen- 
eral southeast direction. 

“Will you follow them on foot, Ivan?” inquired 
Blank. 

“ No,” was the reply; “ I think this is only a bluff. 
We’ll take the train to the first station, get out and 
make inquiries whether two men with a packhorse 
have gotten on at this station. I think we will find that 
this was the case.” 

Acting in accordance with his plan, inquiries showed 
that two men with a single packhorse had boarded a 
train at that station several days before. 

“ You see, I was right,” said Ivan triumphantly to 

327 


The Lctnd of Drought 

his companions. ‘‘We will follow them on the next 
train.” 

“ But the description of these men did not agree with 
Mashinsky and Metchiniskoff, did it? ” inquired Blank. 

“ There was not much description given,” said Ivan; 
“ but I think we had better go ahead.” 

They remained on the train until it had crossed the 
Colorado River at a small station beyond Green River. 
Here they learned that the two men had left the train 
and started in a direction down the eastern bank of the 
river. They followed them, but did not catch up with 
them until after two days’ hard journeying. 

“ This is one on me. Blank, and a bad one,” said 
Petromelinsky when, on reaching the men, they found 
that they were not the parties they were after. They 
were miners on their way to a silver mine in the neigh- 
borhood. 

“ Don’t let yourself get down in the mouth, Ivan,” 
said Blank. “ Every fellow makes a mistake now and 
then. The best thing we can do is to turn back and 
again make inquiries around Salt Lake City, and see 
if we cannot get on the true track of the men.” 

This was done, and after a search of two additional 
days they again got on the tracks of two men whose 
general appearance agreed closely with that of Ma- 
shinsky and Metchiniskoff. They followed their tracks 
until they became four tracks; for they had reached 
the place where the two prospectors had joined with 
them in the search for turquoises. 

It soon became evident to the detectives that the 
328 


The Land of Drought 

party of four were in a hurry, for they managed to 
get over considerable ground on each day’s journey. 

“ How do you square this thing, Ivan ? ” inquired 
Blank. “ Do you suppose these fellows are going so 
fast because of something behind them they are try- 
ing to avoid, or by reason of something before them 
they are anxious to reach ? ” 

‘‘ I think,” replied his companion smiling, it is the 
latter. They have probably heard of some rich min- 
eral deposit that lies in this direction. However, we’ll 
follow them, for I think that two of these men are the 
fellows we are after.” 

‘‘ Follow them by all means,” said Blavinski ; this 
is getting very interesting.” 

They continued following the trail toward the south- 
east without being able to get up with the pursued 
party, for they always managed to keep about two 
days ahead. 

But there was still another party rapidly approach- 
ing the same point. It will be recalled that the pro- 
fessor and Mr. Christian, with their party, were rapidly 
making their way toward the northeast in the pursuit 
of the Indians and their captives. They had now satis- 
fied themselves that the seven Indians they were so 
closely following were taking with them two captives, 
and they thought they were justified in believing that 
these men were those they had left the East in the hope 
of finding. 

The pursued party were far more at home in the 

329 


The Land of Drought 

desert than were their pursuers. Their horses too were 
better animals, so that do what they would they found 
it impossible to come up with them. 

“ These fellers be slick fer travelinV’ said ^ill. 

Them bosses be better’n ours. But this don’t surprise 
me. Them Indians are very particular about the ani- 
mals they ride. Good bosses,” he added, turning to 
A wake-in- the-Night. 

“ Heap good bosses,” was the reply. “ Apaches, 
Navajos, and Pueblo Indians have great bosses.” 

Why do you think they are Apaches, Navajos, 
or Pueblo Indians, Awake-in-the-Night? ” inquired 
Happy. 

Awake-in-the-Night thinks he knows the brave 
this knife belongs to,” he said, pointing to the knife 
that had been taken from the heart of the murdered 
Chinaman. 

The pursued Indians were not only more swiftly 
mounted than the white men, but, as already stated, 
they frequently divided into smaller parties so as to 
puzzle their pursuers. At times the tracks of all their 
horses could be distinctly traced near one another. 
Then they would break up into two or three separate 
groups in a very puzzling manner. On one of these 
occasions they had broken up into two separate groups 
that had followed directions toward the northeast and 
northwest, respectively. 

In accordance with Bill’s advice. Happy, Rob, and 
Bill had followed the tracks toward the northwest, 
while the others went toward the northeast, leaving 

330 


The Land of Drought 

Awake-in-the-Night and Sam to follow with the pack 
burros. 

The rapid gait of the two parties soon took them 
out of each other’s sight and hearing. Bill and his 
companions had followed the northwest track for 
probably five miles when the paths they were following 
again divided into two other separate ones. 

Hap,” said Bill, “ you and Rob take them tracks on 
the west, and I’ll f oiler them on the east.” 

Happy and Rob were soon separated from Bill, and 
Happy had gone far ahead of Rob, when he was sur- 
prised by hearing the command : 

Hold up your hands or I’ll put a bullet in you ! ” 
and looking up he saw the threatening countenance of 
Metchiniskoff, who had ridden ahead of his companions 
just as Happy had ridden ahead of Rob. 

Happy did not hesitate to hold up his hands. Met- 
chiniskoff had the drop on him, and, moreover, was 
aiming his pistol directly at his head. He did not care 
to take any risk of flinching on the part of the man 
holding the pistol, so he held up his hands, saying in 
an easy tone: 

Hands up ? Why, certainly. Anything else you 
want ? ” 

He hoped Metchiniskoff would fall into a trap he had 
purposely laid for him, and this he did, for he said : 

Yes, there is something else I want. Throw me 
your revolver. Be careful how you hold it, or I’ll fill 
you up with lead,” he said, as Happy drew it out of his 
holster. 


331 


The Land of Drought 

How do you wish me to hold it? ” inquired Happy, 
observing that Metchiniskoff’s revolver was still 
pointed directly at his head. 

Take hold of it by the muzzle and hand it to me,” 
replied Metchiniskoff. 

Without any hesitation Happy did this, when Met- 
chiniskoff foolishly lowered his pistol for a moment 
in order to take the one Happy was handing him by 
the muzzle. Happy knowing just what he was doing, 
suddenly threw the revolver a short distance in the air, 
caught it by the handle and remarked, as he sent a 
bullet through the hand of Metchiniskoff that grasped 
the pistol, causing it to fall from his hand to the 
ground : 

“ I give you a chance for your life by sending a 
bullet through your hand.” 

All had been done so quickly that it was almost like 
a flash of light. What Happy had done would seem 
impossible to one ignorant of the skill that could be 
gained by the people who frequently practise this trick 
as Happy had again and again. 

‘‘ Now,” said Happy, turning to Metchiniskoff, 
“ hold up your hands or I’ll put a bullet through you 
sure as your name is Metchiniskoff. Quick ! ” he said, 
“ I’ll take no risks waiting for you to make up your 
mind. Either throw up your hands or throw away 
your life.” 

Metchiniskoff hesitated no longer but threw his 
hands up. Mashinsky, who saw what was happening, 
and who, moreover, had seen what Metchiniskoff had 

332 



‘ I give you a chance for your life by 
sending a bullet through your hand ’ ’ 
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The Land of Drought 

failed to see, namely, that in some curious way he 
could not understand, the dreaded Petromelinsky and 
Blank, followed by Francksen, Blavinski, and Fred, 
were approaching in one direction, and Colorado Bill 
and Rob in the opposite direction; for Bill had heard 
the revolver shot when returning, and had almost 
joined the lad. Mashinsky, therefore, abandoning his 
companion, turned and ran. 

Now,” said Happy, so intent on the man before 
him that he had also failed to notice the approach of 
the others, “ hand me that emerald you stole from the 
Czar of Russia or Fll fill you up with lead.” 

‘‘ Fll take the risk,” said Metchiniskoff. “ How do 
I know that you can hit the side of a barn ? ” 

“ I managed to strike your hand, all right,” said the 
lad ; but if you want more proof Fll shoot a hole in 
your right ear,” he said, firing a revolver ball through 
it. “ If you want any further proof Fll try one on your 
left ear.” 

“ Fm satisfied,” was the reply. ‘‘ You can shoot, all 
right. Here ! take the emerald. If you don’t get more 
good from it than I have it won’t be of much use to 
you.” So saying, he took a small chamois-skin bag 
from an inner pocket and was about handing it to the 
the lad. 

‘‘That won’t do,” said Happy; “take the emerald 
out and show it to me.” 

This he did, and when Happy was satisfied that it 
was apparently the gem long sought for, he said : 

“ Put it back in the bag and throw it to me.” 

333 


The Land of Drought 

At this moment Bill approached in one direction, 
and Petromelinsky, closely followed by Blank and Bla- 
viniski, in the opposite direction. 

Happy, recognizing Blank, said : 

Mr. Petronielinski, Pll hand this man to you. And 
I think,” he said, turning to Blavinski, handing him 
the emerald, ‘‘ here is something you had better take 
charge of. However, you can arrange among your- 
selves as to who shall keep it.” 

It took but a moment for Petromelinsky to slip a 
pair of handcuffs on Metchiniskoff ’s wrists. 

‘‘ You know what I want you for,” he said. 

Yes, for the emerald,” was the reply. You have 
that now.” 

“ I want you also for murder,” and then examining 
the man’s ear that was bleeding profusely, said : “ I’ll 
fix this up for you, for I want to take you back to 
Russia alive. That was a close shave,” he said. ‘‘ A 
little more and you’d have been dead, sure.” 

“ There was no danger,” remarked Metchiniskoff. 
“ The lad’s too good a shot. He said he’d put a bullet 
through my right ear just to prove he could shoot. He 
was ready to do the same thing for the other, but I 
did what he wanted and gave him the emerald.” 

He did thet,” said Colorado Bill. “ I war near 
enough to git on to the talk. Hap is a great shot. I’ll 
back him agin anybody ye kin find in these regions.” 

Blank, now turning to his friend, said: 

“ Ivan, let me introduce you to this lad.” 

“ Young man,” said Petromelinsky, you handled 

334 


The Land of Drought 

this case in a way you have a right to be proud about. 
The Czar will not forget the aid you have given in 
this capture.” 

Blavinski, approaching, shook Happy by the hand 
and congratulated him on what had happened. 

‘‘ Again I have to thank you for your efficient aid.” 

‘‘ Don’t mention it, Mr. Blavinski,” said Happy. 

Rob and I are still in your debt for the pleasant trip 
you have given us to the West.” 

“ But that was for another thing,” was the reply. 
‘‘ There is still something else to thank you for.” 

They made every effort to catch Mashinsky, but were 
unable to do so. Blank could not understand how it 
was possible for an unmounted man so completely to 
disappear as had the fleeing Russian. As we shall 
afterward see, the explanation was to be found in the 
numerous side canons cut by the little drainage streams 
that pour their waters into the canon of the deeper 
river. 

On careful examination of the Czar’s emerald, 
Blavinski said: 

“ Do you recognize this as the gem for which we 
have been searching, Francksen? ” 

“ It is undoubtedly the emerald I recut for you,” re- 
plied Francksen after carefully examining it. 

“ Gentlemen,” said Blavinski, addressing Petrome- 
linsky and Blank, ‘‘ I congratulate you on your man- 
agement of this case. The Czar will be much pleased 
when he learns that we have not only obtained his 
emerald, but also the thief and murderer, and so too,” 
335 


The Land of Drought 

he added, “ will Prince Dimitri, who wishes the thief 
of his diamonds punished.” 

“ I think we have done pretty well,” said Petrome- 
linsky; ‘‘but it is to this lad,” he said, pointing to 
Happy, “ that most of the praise is due.” 

“ The lad will not be forgotten,” was the reply. 

That night while seated around the camp-fire talk- 
ing over the day’s events and the many things that 
had occurred since they last met, Awake-in-the-Night 
beckoned Rob and Happy to one side and said: 

“ Awake-in-the-Night remembers how Smile-on-his- 
Face shot the lion and how the white medicine lad cured 
his sore eyes. Awake-in-the-Night said that some- 
time, not then, he would help find his grandfather and 
father. Now he keep his word. The men you seek are 
the white prisoners of the Indians. They are being 
taken toward the Mesa Verde,” and saying this he 
disappeared, and was not again seen in their camp. 

On returning to the camp-fire, Rob related what he 
and Happy had heard. 

“ I know the Mesa Verde, or the Green Mesa,” said 
Mr. Christian. “ It is situated near the extreme south- 
western corner of Colorado. It is a fairly large mesa, 
and is covered on top with a growth of trees. Do you 
know it. Bill ? ” he inquired. 

“ I know the place,” was the reply. “ A lot of queer 
Indians — Navajos, Pueblos, and others — live on it, and 
I have heard thet some of them Danites live thar.” 

When Blavinski and the detectives heard what had 
been said, they remarked : 

336 


The Land of Drought 

“ As soon as we have done all we can to run down 
Mashinsky we will aid you in your search.” 

“ Francksen,” said Petromelinsky, you kept a copy 
of the letter we sent the professor containing my idea 
of what may have happened to these two men. Have 
you it with you? ” 

“ I have,” was the reply, as he handed the professor 
a copy of what had been written. 

This is the first approach toward an explanation 
of what has possibly happened to your grandfather and 
father, Rob,” said the professor. “ I think that we 
will now be able to rescue them.” 

“ Did I not tell you, Rob,” said Happy, “ when you 
asked me what possible luck could happen to me by 
being laid in bed with a sprained ankle, I said that 
some time or other I would find out just what the luck 
was ? I have now found it. Had I not been in bed I 
would probably not have received the gold ore from 
Awake-in-the-Night; you would probably have had no 
opportunity for healing his swollen eyelids.” 

‘‘ I think you are right. Happy,” replied Rob. 

But we have already reached the limits of a single 
volume. The mysterious things that happened on the 
Mesa Verde, and the astonishing adventures they had 
in the canon regions of the Colorado River, will be 
described in the third volume of the series, entitled 
‘‘ The Jaws of Death ; or. In and Around the Canons 
of the Colorado.” 


w 


337 


i 



APPENDICES 


A. Egyptian Mummies. “ There are certain indi- 
viduals appointed for that purpose — the embalming — 
and who profess that art; these persons, when any 
body is brought to them, show the bearers some wooden 
models of corpses, painted to represent the originals; 
the most perfect they assert to be the representation of 
him whose name I take it to be impious to mention 
in this matter ; they show a second, which is inferior to 
the first, and cheaper ; and a third, which is the cheapest 
of all. They then ask of them according to which of 
the models they will have the deceased prepared ; hav- 
ing settled upon the price, the relations immediately 
depart, and the embalmers, remaining at home, thus 
proceed to perform the embalming in the most costly 
manner. In the first place, with a crooked piece of 
iron, they pull out the brain by the nostrils ; a part of 
it they extract in this manner, the rest by means of 
pouring in certain drugs. In the next place, after ma- 
king an incision in the flank with a sharp Egyptian 
stone, they empty the whole of the inside, and after 
cleansing the cavity and rinsing it with palm wine, 
scour it out again with pounded aromatics; then, hav- 
ing filled the belly with pure myrrh — pounded, and 
cinnamon, and all other perfumes — frankincense ex- 
cepted, they sew it up again; having so done, they 
339 


APPENDICES 


steep the body in natrum, keeping it covered for 
seventy days, for it is not lawful to leave the body 
any longer in the brine. When the seventy days are 
gone by, they first wash the corpse, and then wrap up 
the whole of the body in bandages cut out of cotton 
cloth, which they smear with gum, a substance the 
Egyptians generally use instead of paste. The rela- 
tions, having then received back the body, get a 
wooden case, in the shape of a man, to be made; and, 
when completed, place the body in the inside, and then, 
shutting it up, keep it in a sepulchral repository, where 
they stick it upright against the wall. The above is the 
most costly manner in which they prepare the dead. 

‘‘ For such as choose the middle mode, from a de- 
sire of avoiding expense, they prepare the body thus : 
They first fill syringes with cedar oil, which they in- 
ject into the belly of the deceased, without making any 
incision or emptying the inside, but sending it in by 
the seat ; they then close the aperture, to hinder the in- 
jection from flowing backward, and lay the body in 
brine for the specified number of days, on the last 
of which they take out the cedar oil, which they had 
previously injected, and such is the strength it pos- 
sesses that it brings away with it the bowels and inside 
in a state of dissolution ; on the other hand, the natrum 
dissolves the flesh, so that, in fact, there remains noth- 
ing but the skin and the bones. When they have so 
done they give back the body without performing any 
further operation upon it. 

‘‘ The third mode of embalming, which is used for 
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APPENDICES 


such as have but scanty means, is as follows: After 
washing the inside with syrmsea they salt the body for 
the seventy days, and return it to be taken back.” 
(From Herodotus, in ‘‘ History of Egyptian Mum- 
mies,” by Pettigrew.) 

The same author gives the following information 
concerning the substances employed in the process of 
embalming : 

The Jews’ pitch, or bitumen Jiidaicnm, called also 
asphaltum, from the name of the lake whence it has 
been obtained, is a solid friable substance of a brown- 
ish-black color, brilliant in its fracture, and giving out 
a bituminous odor. It has been named funeral gum, 
and gum of mummies, from its use in the preparation 
of mummies. Chemical analysis demonstrates the com- 
position to be a compound of oily matter and mineral 
acids. Pissasphaltum is a compound of asphaltum and 
common black pitch. It is known also by the name of 
mineral pitch, pitch of the mountain, etc. M. Rouelle 
distilled different mixtures of resins and pitch with 
the bitumen Judaicum, and he found the odors pro- 
duced in no manner to resemble those of the mummies. 
As the resinous matter mixed with the Jews’ pitch was 
aromatic and very penetrating, he conjectured that it 
might be the liquor of the cedar. The matter of these 
mummies may be regarded as the pissasphaltum. Pur- 
suing this subject with ardor, M. Rouelle obtained 
another specimen from a mummy in the custody of the 
Augustins dechausses, and by distillation, as before, 
he obtained a light aromatic oil ; then a thicker oil, more 

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APPENDICES 


penetrating in its odor; then one more thick, and hav- 
ing the smell of the Jews’ pitch. The results vary in a 
very trifling degree from the previous experiments. It 
results from the whole of these analyses that M. Rouelle 
has detected three modes of embalming, differing in 
the materials used: i. With the asphaltum, or Jews’ 
pitch. 2. With the mixture of asphaltum with the 
liquor of cedar, or the cedria. 3. With this mixture, to 
which was added some resinous and aromatic ingre- 
dients. The matter contained in the vessel found in 
the chamber of the mummies probably furnishes 
another method more balsamic, and perhaps more pre- 
cious.” 

B. Emeralds. “ Compared with other precious 
stones, the rarity of perfect specimens of emerald is 
unique. The most common faults are those which have 
just been mentioned, fissures being almost invariably 
present. Stones which are clouded by fissures are de- 
scribed as ‘ mossy.’ Irregularities in the distribution 
of colors, and dull and cloudy patches, are also fre- 
quently to be seen. 

The disparity between the value of a perfect and 
an imperfect emerald is enormous. A faultless emerald 
is worth as much, or nearly as much, as a ruby, and 
certainly more than a diamond. A one-carat stone, 
perfect in color and transparency, is worth at least 
twenty dollars, and larger stones, on account of their 
rarity, have a value out of all proportion to their size. 
As a matter of fact, a perfect emerald, weighing but a 

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APPENDICES 


few carats, is so rare that almost any price will be 
given for it by collectors. . . 

Flawless emeralds of large size are extremely 
rare, so that only small stones are available for cutting 
as gems. Emeralds of considerable size have been 
known, but their quality leaves much to be desired. . . 

The ancient Peruvians are said to have ranked 
among their deities an emerald the size of an ostrich 
Again, there is reputed to be in the treasury at 
Vienna an emerald that weighs two thousand two hun- 
dred and five carats, while Schrauf states that in the 
same place is preserved an ink well cut out of a single 
stone, besides other large emeralds cut as table-stones. 
One of the largest and finest emeralds known belongs 
to the Duke of Denmark. It is a natural crystal. . . 

“ Probably the largest emerald is in the posses- 
sion of the Czar of Russia. It is said to measure 
twenty-five centimeters — nearly ten inches — in length, 
and twelve centimeters in diameter.” Precious 
Stones,” by Dr. Max Bauer. ) 

C. Remedies for Snake Bites. ‘‘ Remedies for 
snake bites are of considerable importance, as it must 
be remembered that two venomous snakes, the copper- 
head and the rattler, are abundant in certain parts of 
this State, and even during this summer there have 
been reports of human beings dying from the bites of 
rattlers as well as copperheads within the Common- 
wealth of Pennsylvania. We have verified these re- 
ports by correspondence. . . 

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APPENDICES 


“ When a person is bitten by a venomous snake, the 
first thing to do is to place a ligature as tightly as possi- 
ble between the wound and the heart, to keep the poi- 
son from being carried to the heart in the circulatory 
system. This can often be done by tearing some article 
of clothing into strips, tying it tightly around the bitten 
member between the bite and the heart, and twisting it 
as tightly as possible with a stick put through the band 
of ligature. The next step is to suck or squeeze out all 
the poison possible. This is greatly aided by opening 
the wound with a knife or other sharp instrument. The 
third step is to rub permanganate of potash into the 
wound. This is the best possible remedy for snake bites, 
and in places where venomous snakes are found per- 
manganate of potash should be at hand ready for im- 
mediate use by any one who is exposing himself to their 
attacks. It is well for persons on fishing or berrying 
expeditions, or on outings, to carry with them some of 
this material, which is very inexpensive, and is easily 
carried wrapped in paper. No evil effects to the human 
system will come from using too much of it, and thus 
it is perfectly safe in the hands of an unskilled person. 

‘‘ The fourth and last step in the treatment of snake 
bites is to give a good heart stimulant, the best of which 
is the injection of one-twentieth of a grain of strych- 
nia. This, however, should only be applied by a regu- 
lar physician. Most cases of death or serious results 
from snake bites are due to the effects of the poison on 
the heart, and this is why whisky is so often regarded 
as a sovereign remedy. It is entirely wrong for a per- 
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APPENDICES 


son who is bitten by a venomous snake to fill him- 
self with whisky and expect this to be the only remedy 
necessary. In most cases it may be a decided help, 
but it should be a last resort rather than a first. Wher- 
ever it is possible, the services of a physician should be 
secured, although the treatment mentioned above 
should be given, as far as possible, as soon as the poi- 
son has been injected. It is useless to depend upon 
some of the reputed remedies, such as the gall of the 
snake taken internally, or a second bite by the same 
snake at the same place, or powwows of any kind. 
Prompt action and common sense will do more to 
prevent evil effects from snake bites than anything else. 

‘‘We wish here to call attention to the idiotic prac- 
tice of some persons who try to be smart by frightening 
others with snakes, whether they be dead or alive, 
harmless or otherwise. Severe punishment should be 
administered to the boy who attempts to frighten 
others, especially girls, with snakes, however small or 
harmless they may be. While the fear of snakes is 
generally based on ignorance, we should respect the 
feelings of others, and remember that serious results 
may come from being thus frightened. One example 
should be enough to put an end to this practice for- 
ever. Some years ago some school children were play- 
ing in a schoolyard, near the center of this State, and 
the boys found a small snake. There was one boy in 
the group who was inexpressibly afraid of such crea- 
tures, and to tease him the boys threw it at him. It 
wrapped itself around the neck of the timid boy, while 
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APPENDICES 


he fell to the ground in a faint. It was regarded for a 
moment as a great joke, but as the boy aid not re- 
cover readily it became more serious. That boy is 
to-day a raving maniac in one of the insane asylums 
of Pennsylvania. He was at one time a bright and 
happy boy, and had it not been for the thoughtlessness 
of his companions he might have been to-day a most 
useful citizen instead of a man with dethroned rea- 
son.” (“The Serpents of Pennsylvania,” by H. A. 
Surface, Monthly Bulletin, Department of Zoology.) 

D. Myths Concerning Rattlesnakes and 
Other Snakes. “ The myths concerning serpents 
are numerous, and new bits of local folk lore of reptiles 
come to us every week. For example, it is a popular 
belief that snakes sting with the tongue. This may be 
due to the Scriptural expression, “ stingeth like an ad- 
der.” The Scripture did not say the stinging is done 
by the tongue, or is not done by the tooth, and the 
reader at once infers that the tongue is the stinging 
organ, and thus falls into a serious error. The tongue 
of the snake is its organ of touch, taste, and perhaps 
in part also of smell, and possibly even of hearing. 
It is by this that it investigates the objects immediately 
around it. When it is seen to stick out its tongue it is 
making a critical inquiry of the surrounding objects, 
and is not attempting to sting anything. . . 

“ Another common error is the belief that the green 
snakes are venomous because they are supposed to be 
filled with a poison that makes them look green, Of 
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APPENDICES 


the three or four species of green snakes to be found 
in this State, not one is of a dangerous type. . . 

‘‘ No snakes are able to eject, throw, or ‘ spit ’ poison, 
nor by their blowing or hissing are they able to blow 
any poison or venom upon their victims. This is gener- 
ally believed, notwithstanding the facts to the con- 
trary. A common error is the term ‘ slimy,’ applied to 
serpents and other reptiles. Snakes are not slimy, nor 
are their bodies naturally moist, being covered with 
dry scales. One of the easily recognized differences 
between lizards, which are reptiles, and salamanders, 
which are amphibians, is that the latter are slimy and 
the former are not. . . 

“ Among the myths must be classed the common be- 
lief that snakes milk or suck cows. This feat is not 
possible, and in our honest opinion, never was per- 
formed. A recent newspaper article gave the name of 
a Connecticut farmer who was reported as having seen 
the milk snake sucking his cattle. We wrote to him for 
details, and he replied, ‘ A reporter lied about me.’ 

“ How common is the absurd belief that a snake’s 
tail does not die until sundown, or until it thunders. 
When we were at home with the country boys we 
firmly believed with them that to kill a snake and 
turn it upside down would bring rain. Who knows 
other beliefs of this kind which they are willing to 
mail to us for our collection of literary curiosities ? 

‘‘ Another popular erroneous belief is that snakes 
jump or spring from the ground at their victims. No 
snake is able to jump or spring, but merely strikes 
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APPENDICES 


from its zigzag coil, which is like the letter ‘ S ’ placed 
horizontally. It can then only reach the distance that 
it is able to strike out from this double curve, which is 
rarely more than half the length of its body, and proba- 
bly never more than three-fourths of its total length. 
No snake springs clear from the ground as it strikes, 
and none jumps through the air to its victim, although 
occasionally the blow may be delivered with such force 
as to turn the reptile over. 

‘‘ It is also believed by some persons that serpents 
coil in a regular manner, like the coil of a rope, and 
strike from such a coil. We have seen mounted speci- 
mens and drawings representing snakes coiled like a 
rope and ready to strike at their supposed victims, but 
these do not represent the truth. If a serpent should 
attempt to strike from a uniform coil, like a pile of 
rope, it would be obliged to turn over as many times as 
it was coiled, in order to make a straight line to the 
intended victim. While reptiles do coil partially, they 
keep the front part of the body free for striking from a 
zigzag or horizontal letter ‘ S ’ position. It should 
also be remembered that no serpent can strike while 
stretched out or in an extended position. . . 

We have recently learned that there is a common 
saying in the northern part of the State, that if a rattle- 
snake or copperhead be deprived of water for six days 
they will lose their venom; or, in other words, their 
poison becomes ineffective. There is no truth in this, 
for the tendency would be to make the poison stronger 
rather than less efficient. 

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APPENDICES 


“ There is a general belief in the medicinal quali- 
ties of certain parts of snakes. It is enough to say that 
these are founded in superstition, and that no part of 
any serpent has any medicinal value. Nevertheless, we 
frequently hear of a person recommending such reme- 
dies as the gall of a snake for snake bites; its oil for 
rheumatism, baldness, and deafness; and its skin to 
be worn like the skin of an eel for similar troubles. 
It is a remarkable fact that in some parts of this State 
the oil of snakes has a very high commercial value for 
its supposed curative qualities. It is thought to be a 
sovereign remedy for deafness, but there is no reason 
why this is any better than any other oil. We have 
recently learned of the heart of a rattlesnake being 
swallowed while fresh for consumption, and the flesh 
and blood have been recommended for certain ills. It 
is also generally believed, not only in America but in 
other parts of the earth, that if a snake can be made to 
bite a second time in the same place it will, by so doing, 
cure the ills inflicted by its first bite. This is, of course, 
nonsense, as are the other superstitious beliefs and 
quack remedies above outlined. No snake, and no part 
of any snake, has any curative or medicinal quality 
whatever, and persons who trust in them are doing 
so at the peril of their own welfare.” The Serpents 
of Pennsylvania,” by H. A. Surface, Monthly Bulletin, 
Department of Zoology.) 

E. The Camel. From the earliest times that 
are recorded in history, the camel is mentioned as one 
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APPENDICES 


of the animals which are totally subject to the sway of 
man, and which in Eastern countries contribute so 
much to the wealth and influence of their owners. 

There are two species of camel acknowledged by 
zoologists, namely, the common camel of Arabia, which 
has but one hump, and the Mecheri, or Bactrian camel, 
which possesses two of these curious appendages. Of 
these two animals, the former is by far the more 
valuable, as it is superior to its two-humped relative in 
almost every respect. Admirably fitted, as are all 
animals, for the task which they are intended to per- 
form, the camel presents such wonderful adaptations 
of form to duty, that the most superficial observer can- 
not but be struck with the exquisite manner in which 
the creature has been endowed with the various quali- 
ties of mind and body which are needful under the pe- 
culiar circumstances amid which it dwells. 

“ As the animal is intended to traverse the parched 
sand plains, and to pass several consecutive days with- 
out the possibility of obtaining liquid nourishment, 
there is an internal structure which permits th*e animal 
to store up a considerable amount of water for future 
use. For this purpose, the honeycomb cells of the 
‘ reticulum ' are largely developed, and are enabled to 
receive and to retain the water which is received into 
the stomach after the natural thirst of the animal has 
been supplied. After a camel has been accustomed to 
journeying across the hot and arid sand wastes, it 
learns wisdom by experience, and contrives to lay 
by d much greater supply of water than would be ac- 

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APPENDICES 


cumulated by a young and untried animal. It is sup- 
posed that the camel is, in some way, able to dilate the 
honeycomb cells, and to force them to receive a large 
quantity of the priceless liquid. 

‘‘ A large and experienced camel will receive five or 
six quarts of water into its stomach, and is enabled to 
exist for as many days without needing to drink. 
Aided by this internal supply of water, the camel can 
satiate its hunger by browsing on the hard and with- 
ered thorns that are found scattered thinly through the 
deserts, and suffers no injury to its palate from their 
ironlike spears, that would direfully wound the mouth 
of any less-sensitive creature. The camel has even 
been known to eat pieces of dry wood, and to derive 
apparent satisfaction from its strange meal. 

‘‘ The feet of the camel are well adapted for walking 
upon the loose sand, than which substance is no more 
uncertain footing. The toes are very broad, and are 
furnished with soft, wide cushions, that present a con- 
siderable surface to the loose soil, and enable the ani- 
mal to maintain a firm hold upon the shifting sands. 
As the camel is constantly forced to kneel in order to 
be loaded or relieved of its burden, it is furnished upon 
the knees and breast with thick callous pads, which 
support its weight without injuring the skin. Thus 
fitted by nature for its strange life, the camel faces 
the desert sands with boldness, and traverses the arid 
regions with an ease and quiet celerity that has gained 
for the creature the title of ‘ Ship of the Desert.’ 

The camel is invariably employed as an animal of 

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APPENDICES 


carriage when in its native land, and is able to sup- 
port a load of five or six hundred pounds’ weight with- 
out being overloaded. The Arab will not willingly 
injure his camel by placing too heavy a burden upon 
its back, but in India and some other countries, where 
the camel has been naturalized and domesticated, its 
treatment is barbarous in the extreme. Hundreds of 
valuable animals are annually sacrificed on account of 
the covetousness of their owners, who know that they 
will receive payment for every camel that falls upon 
the journey, and are consequently indifferent to the 
suffering and condition of those animals which they 
have nominally taken under their care.” 

The ‘ hump ’ of the camel is a very curious part of 
its structure, and is of great importance in the eyes 
of the Arabs, who judge of the condition of their beasts 
by the size, shape, and firmness of the hump. They 
say, and truly, that the camel feeds upon his hump ; for 
in proportion as the animal traverses the sandy wastes 
of its desert lands, and suffers from privations and 
fatigue, the hump diminishes. At the end of a long and 
painful journey the hump will often nearly vanish, 
and it cannot be restored to its pristine form until the 
animal has undergone a long course of good feeding. 
When an Arab is about to set forth on a desert journey 
he pays great attention to the humps of his camels, 
and watches with jealous care. 

‘‘ Independently of its value as a beast of burden, the 
camel is most precious to its owners, as it supplies them 

352 


APPENDICES 


with food and clothing. The milk mixed with meal is 
a favorite dish among the children of the desert, and 
is sometimes purposely kept until it is sour, in which 
state it is very grateful to the Arab palate, but es- 
pecially nauseous to that of a European. The Arabs 
think that any man is sadly devoid of taste who pre- 
fers the sweet new milk to that which has been mel- 
lowed by time. A kind of very rancid butter is churned 
fiom the cream by a remarkably simple process, con- 
sisting of pouring the cream into a goatskin sack, and 
shaking it constantly until the butter is formed. The 
flesh of the camel is seldom eaten, probably because 
the animal is too valuable to be killed merely for the 
sake of being eaten. Sometimes, however, in a season 
of festivity, a rich Arab will slay one of his camels, 
and calling all his friends and relations to the ban- 
quet, they hold high festival upon the unaccustomed 
dainty. The long hair of the camel is spun into coarse 
thread, and is employed in the manufacture of broad- 
cloths and similar articles. At certain times of the 
year the camel sheds its hair, in order to replace its old 
coat by a new one, and the Arabs avail themselves of 
the looseness with which the hair is at these times ad- 
herent to the skin, to pluck it away without injuring the 
animal. 

“ In extreme cases, when the water has failed for 
many days, and the desert fountains are dried up, the 
camel dies for the purpose of prolonging the life of its 
master, and yields up the store of water which is laid 
up in the cells of the stomach. The water thus obtained 
353 


X 


APPENDICES 


is of a light-green color, and very unpleasant to the 
palate; but when a man is dying of thirst he is not 
very particular as to the quality of the liquid which may 
save his life. Unpleasant though it be, this water is 
hardly more unpalatable than that which is carried in 
leathern bags on the camel’s back, and which is not 
only heated by the rays of the fierce sun, but is strongly 
impregnated with a leathery flavor, and smells as if it 
were taken out of a tan pit. The water which is taken 
from the camel’s stomach is even cooler than that which 
has been carried on its back, as the natural heat of the 
animal is not comparable to that which is produced by 
the continual rays of the burning desert sun. 

‘‘ The height of an ordinary camel at the shoulder 
is about six or seven feet, and its color is a light brown, 
of various depths in different individuals, some speci- 
mens being nearly black, and others almost white. The 
dromedary is the lighter breed of camel and is chiefly 
used for riding, while the ordinary camel is employed 
as a beast of burden. Between the two animals there 
is about the same difference as between a dray horse 
and a hunter, the heirie being analogous to the race 
horse. 

The Bactrian camel is readily to be distinguished 
from the ordinary camel by the double hump which it 
bears on its back, and which is precisely analogous in 
in its structure and office to that of the Arabian camel. 

''The general formation of this animal; its lofty 
neck, raising its head high above the solar radiations 
from the heated ground; its valvelike nostrils, that 
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APPENDICES 


close involuntarily if a grain of drifting sand should 
invade their precincts ; its wide, cushionlike feet, and its 
powers of abstinence, prove that, like its Arabian rela- 
tive, it is intended for the purpose of traversing vast 
deserts without needing refreshment on the way. 
This species is spread through Central Asia, Thibet, 
and China, and is domesticated through a large portion 
of the world. It is not so enduring an animal as the 
Arabian species, requiring a fresh supply of liquid 
every three days ; while the Arabian camel, can exist 
without water for five or even six days. It is em- 
ployed by the Persians in a rather curious military 
capacity; its saddle being furnished with one or two 
swivel guns, which are managed by the rider. The 
corps is called the camel artillery, and is of considerable 
value in the peculiar mode of fighting which is preva- 
lent in the East. 

‘‘ The height of the Bactrian camel is rather more 
than that of the Arabian species, and its color is gener- 
ally brown, which sometimes deepens into sooty black, 
and sometimes fades into a dirty white.” Illus- 
trated Natural History,” by Wood.) 


355 


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